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Brooklyn Nets need to consider trading for Jahlil Okafor

By Ed Easton Jr.

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 18: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during a preseason game on October 18, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 18: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during a preseason game on October 18, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The center position is still a big position in today’s NBA for some teams. The Brooklyn Nets could use a future upgrade in the form of Jahlil Okafor.

The Brooklyn Nets have been spoiled with the fortune of having the starting center position solidified by multiple franchise record-holder Brook Lopez the past nine seasons. After the blockbuster deal that sent Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov the position hasn’t seen much growth thus far in the young season.

The team’s recent first round draft pick, Jarrett Allen, is still developing and could become a decent long-term plan at center. There is still a chance that he won’t exactly pan out as a great center in the league and the Nets will need results quickly, sparking the possibilities of a trade sometime this season. The addition of the offensive-minded Jahlil Okafor would fit perfectly along a Nets frontline moving forward and solve two team’s center problems.

Okafor was drafted third overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and was expected to be an immediate impact star in the NBA. He made his name after one successful season at Duke University, leading the team to a national championship as a freshman. His career has since floundered in part by poor decisions off the court and the emergence of star center Joel Embiid commanding praise and the starting center position.

Okafor brings the classic back-to-the-basket style that is actually beneficial to the Nets’ game plan. Brooklyn could use a dynamic center in the post to demand double-teams and extra attention, opening up possessions for guards like Russell and Caris LeVert to score from the outside. Okafor in three seasons is averaging an impressive 14.7 points per game with a majority of his scoring coming in limited minutes off the bench.

The lack of relevant playing time so far this season has begun to chip away at the 22-year old’s patience. He recently vented his frustrations with reporters. PerThe Athletic:

"“I honestly didn’t want them to pick up my option, I’ve been going through a lot since I’ve been here, so the fact that I know that at the end of the season that I’ll at least have an opportunity to play elsewhere, that’s great. Now I’m just in a position to where, how can I get on the court? That’s not happening here and I want to play.”“I only talked about it with Bryan and he just said that he felt that if he bought me out, another team would be getting me for free, But that’s where we stand today, because he waited so long to trade me. There’s nothing else to do. I’m not playing here and at the end of this season, I’m an unrestricted free agent.”"

Okafor can easily provide the offensive punch Mozgov lacks and a trade between the two franchises could solve both center concerns. Mozgov would be an adequate backup and defensive option for the 76ers, while Okafor’s scoring is a needed frontcourt addition in the Nets’ starting lineup.

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This trade idea is one that can be explored before the upcoming trade deadline if the big man is still on the market, and even better, his trade value is so low right now it might not cost much to acquire his services.

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