The Chicago Bulls have been linked to free agent big man Jahlil Okafor. Will they add yet another Chicago native to their roster?
Apparently the Chicago Bulls are discussing the possibility of adding Brooklyn Nets free agent center Jahlil Okafor, because why not? According to Sporting News‘ Sean Deveney, the Bulls and Indiana Pacers are said to have interest in signing Okafor.
It seems like an unlikely and ill-fitting match for the Bulls. Listen, this isn’t about Okafor, who was a Chicago high school basketball legend. Okafor was great in his one season at Duke. He even had a solid rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Now though, he’s still a free agent (emphasis on the “still”), and there are good reasons for that.
I know, the Bulls front office has a soft spot for hometown heroes and if they are former Blue Devils, that’s even better. However, at some point the matches are going to have to start making sense, not cents.
There are reasons a team like the Bulls might want to take a flier on a 22-year-old talent like Okafor. Mainly, he’s young and GM’s love to find reclamation projects. There is ego involved, of course, and resurrecting a former lottery pick looks good on resumes. If he’s from your city, you might sell more tickets. However, if you’re the Bulls, ticket sales are not really a concern (they led the league in attendance during a 55-loss season). So why bring in Okafor?
Okafor needs the Chicago Bulls, but they don’t need him
Whenever Okafor signs with his new team, he will be joining his third team since he was drafted in 2015. Remember, he was the third overall pick in that draft, ahead of someone by the name of Kristaps Porzingas.
He has been languishing on the market now for over two weeks with little interest. If he wants to stay in the NBA, Okafor needs the Bulls to show interest. At this point, he’s just in need of an opportunity, and the rest can take care of itself.
The Bulls however, don’t need Okafor. I can see the spin from the front office: former lottery pick, young, exciting, from Chicago, etc, etc.
That he’s a former lottery pick is irrelevant. Yes he’s young, but so what? Signing Okafor wouldn’t really stir the hometown crowd the way Jabari Parker will or even Dwyane Wade did. He’s just another big man to add to a stable of big men. He’s not a shooter, nor does he play defense. Look at the Bulls’ roster. Does it look like it needs another player with those attributes?
Even if they signed him, where and when would Okafor play?
Again, this isn’t about Jahlil Okafor. Not really. It just that the Bulls already need to find time for Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter, Jr, Robin Lopez, and Bobby Portis in the frontcourt. Don’t forget, they still have Cristiano Felicio and his horrendous contract. Fred Hoiberg will be tasked with playing Parker at the 3, but he’s really a power forward. So where would Okafor play? Why would signing him be advantageous?
Last season, Okafor played in just 28 games and averaged 6.3 point and 3.0 rebounds per game. Most likely, he’d be coming in on a minimum deal to re-establish himself. I just don’t see that happening, even if the Bulls end up being his only opportunity.
The one aspect of his game, his post game, could be helpful in Chicago. But, until he develops a perimeter presence, where he went 1-for-4 from downtown last season, Okafor doesn’t fit in Fred Hoiberg’s offense. He certainly doesn’t fit on defense, with Zach LaVine and Parker’s glaring deficiencies in front of him.
It seems like his best opportunity to re-establish himself as a commodity in today’s game would be overseas. Okafor could go dominate in China and give GMs something to think about. Sitting at the end of the bench night after night in the NBA won’t be beneficial for Okafor.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
It’s simple for the Chicago Bulls: Don’t sign Jahlil Okafor. There really is no need for it. We already know how this one ends, don’t we? Yes, he meets specific qualifications, but the one key qualification — helping the team win — is missing. The Bulls need to pass on this hometown hero, since having one will be just fine.