Giving Jahlil Okafor a chance
Ever since averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his rookie season, Jahlil Okafor‘s career has taken a downward spiral. This deviates from the norm of other Philadelphia lottery picks, most of whom suffer injuries before displaying their elite talent.
There was a glimmer of hope when the Brooklyn Nets traded for him. Unfortunately, his chance at a fresh start was wasted due to poor conditioning and an outdated playstyle. He’ll join New Orleans on a two-year, partially guaranteed deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Now with the extremely talented Pelicans frontcourt that boasts Anthony Davis, Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic, this might be Okafor’s last real shot. According to Kevin Skiver of CBS Sports, The 22-year-old can get minutes with New Orleans despite the odd fit.
Okafor doesn’t play in transition very well and the Pelicans ranked first in pace during the 2017-18 season. Skiver explains how he’ll get playing time:
"However, it’s that complete counter-intuition that might allow Okafor to not only get minutes in New Orleans, but thrive there as a counterweight. Running more than any team in basketball takes its toll. Guys like Randle and Davis can’t run the floor forever, and Mirotic is a liability inside. He’s the quintessential stretch player. Over half of his attempted field goals were beyond the arc last season. So when Randle and Davis are gassed, someone needs fill the void in the paint."
It’s an interesting theory, albeit a bit of a wonky one. Okafor is a talent offensive option that could help any second unit if he makes the appropriate adjustments. There’s no reason to not try and incorporate Okafor.
Grade: B+