Jahlil Okafor’s ‘Erroneous’ Fit With Sixers Is Overblown

By Jake Hyman | Jun 27, 2015

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jahlil Okafor (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number three overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia 76ers taking Jahlil Okafor exemplified Sam Hinkie’s belief in drafting the best available talent on the board with your first round pick. The Duke product ranked No. 1 on Jay Bilas’ big board heading into the draft and was a bonafide contender to go one pick earlier to Los Angeles. He would be the next illustrious big man to grace the organization.

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When he heard his name called after instead of before D’Angelo Russell, however, the theme changed dramatically. Instead of an optimistic future and playing with a star in either Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks, who would have taken the big man one pick later, doubt crept into focus.

Joining a barren wasteland of backcourt talent, his fit with both Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid became talking point No. 1.

The triple towers: Okafor, Embiid, Noel. At least one won’t have a long-term future in Philly. Embiid or Noel the more likely to be moved
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) June 25, 2015

Okafor was a great get for Hinkie and Sixers. However, I am not sold he and Nerlens will fit well together. Philly needs a PG.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 26, 2015

The primary detriment to the logjam at the five is the inability for any one big man to shift to the four effectively and produce. Noel handling a stretch-4 on the perimeter eliminates that interior eraser he embodies at the rim. At this early point in his career, Okafor is simply a liability handling mobile bigs who like to operate at the high post. His pick-and-roll defense spotlighted and highlighted his deficiencies containing both guards and bigs outside of the paint.

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The league has seen a swift transition to more floor spacing and small-ball lineups. Brett Brown will have to systematically neutralize frontcourt perimeter threats, but having smaller power forwards without girth gives Philaldelphia an edge.

It remains to be seen how Brown features both bigs in half court sets, but the thought of Okafor breaking down smaller bigs is comical. Fit becomes an afterthought when he’s physically imposing his will on lighter defenders.

Floor spacing also has been harped upon as an issue with both Okafor and Noel preferably operating in the low post. However, “Jah” is an inverted floor spacer. A magnet attracting a wing to help double in the paint, he’ll allow marksmen Robert Covington and Hollis Thompson to get easier looks from deep. Hinkie coveted the unique caveat to Okafor’s ability:

"“You don’t see players like [Okafor] in today’s era, not very often. You don’t see them. They don’t come along in a way where you’re looking to feed them over and over and over and where they’re commanding double teams since they were 12 or 13 years old and have been learning to deal with those.”"

Getting shooters and other players open encompasses floor spacing on the simplest level. Okafor is just doing what’s natural. It’s the fluid footwork and total control of his movements that will cause havoc for opponents. He creates opportunities utilizing his build, whether it be a post-spin to the rim or a back-down hook shot five feet from the hoop. Okafor has the offensive package players his size only dream of.

Also, it’s like people forgot what he could teach to Noel, whose offensive ability is ever-evolving. After interior savants like Tim Duncan and Al Jefferson, there might not be a player-teacher quite like Okafor who could showcase his move set to other bigs.

Noel, while he can’t teach Okafor athleticism and instincts, can show the 6’11, 270-pound center what to expect at the next level and how to rotate while moving effectively on defense. The alliance can only help both parties.

The ACC Player of the Year won’t factor fit into dominating in his rookie season. He articulated his strengths to the media at the Sixers introductory press conference for their draft prospects today:

"“I like to play in the post. That’s where I’m most comfortable, that’s where I’ve always been. I’ve never really waved it off to shoot jumpers. I’ve always known that my bread and butter is in the post.”"

When talking about playing style and being a throwback, he reflected on past stars who he’s admired and studied.

"“Well I’ve always been the tallest guy in my age group which always made me go right down to the post and around sixth or seventh grade I fell in love with Tim Duncan and his all-around game. That’s when I started watching him and then my father just gave me film of Hakeem Olajuwon. Pretty much from seventh grade until now, that’s who I have modeled my game after.”"

He’s been compared to Duncan on his never-ending array of post moves and footwork and Hoops Habit’s own Maxwell Ogden has the Spur as Okafor’s most lofty comparison. Both Okafor and Duncan stand at 6’11”, though the five-time champion predominately played PF.

Noel ventured to the four his rookie season in spurts, but his rim protection warrants play against centers. Okafor could be utilized more at PF forming a massive lineup and frontcourt. Nonetheless, the fit isn’t a serious detriment to the franchise.

The Sixers have two healthy big men with one a force offensively and the other on the defensive side of the ball. They might be on other side’s of the spectrum in terms of style and build, but Okafor and Noel are an intriguing pairing at the start of the 2015-16 NBA season.

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