NBA: Jahlil Okafor Is (Finally) Free!
The third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jahlil Okafor, is finally getting a chance to showcase why he was so coveted coming out of Duke. The Philadelphia Sixers are sending Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a 2019 second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Trevor Booker. Both Stauskas and Okafor were relegated to bench warmers this season but for Okafor, it's surely been a long time coming. The talented center never quite fit in Philly because of his alleged weakness on defense and quite possibly his inability to mesh with “The Process” himself, Joel Embiid.
Embiid is a superstar in the making with a skill set that hasn't been displayed quite as well since Hakeem Olajuwon. Then there's Ben Simmons, a gifted 6’10 floor general who is also primed for stardom, there was just simply no more room for Okafor in Philly. He was unfortunately a byproduct of a team that has found faith in the process (no pun intended) originally set in motion by Sam Hinkie, but the Sixers are not without fault. It was no secret that current team president Bryan Colangelo had zero attachment to Okafor. Colangelo orchestrated a trade last season - with a team that was never named - that fell through at the last minute.
This created a rift between Okafor and the front office which made Jahlil not even want to travel with the team. From that point on, the relationship progressively soured. At the start of the season, the Sixers declined to pick up Okafor’s player option which prompted Jahlil to ask for a buyout, but the Sixers weren't willing to give up the big man for nothing. Fast forward to December and Jahlil finally gets his wish to prove he isn't a bust. Through 105 total games in three years, Okafor has averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Not necessarily numbers expected by a third overall pick, but Okafor is only 22-years-old.
Okafor’s post game was always refined and made for the NBA but also suited for Brooklyn who lacks a low post presence. Brooklyn also acquired the recently seldom used guard in Stauskas, whose only 24-years-old. Since adding J.J. Redick, Stauskas has found himself out of the rotation this season. Part of the reason why is due to the fact that Stauskas hasn't quite lived up to his shooting potential from his Michigan days. But Nik may fit right in with the Nets who play the modern game as well as anyone else by running and shooting threes. Both Stauskas and Okafor will be able to get a fresh start in Brooklyn on a young team that's trying to redeem themselves too after being the laughing stock in the league for the past few years.
In return, Philly picks up Booker, who should be able to provide solid minutes at the four spot behind Dario Saric by playing tough defense and rebounding. Former Nets general manager Billy King almost single handedly steered the Brooklyn Nets to one of the worst positions in the league, but Sean Marks has done his best to make sure Brooklyn is headed in the right direction. And despite the wait, The Process is finally working in Philly. Jahlil would probably tell the world himself, how much he enjoys not being apart of it anymore.
Photo Credit: ESPN.
