Jahlil Okafor
I was nervous to even include Okafor in this piece as several reports have indicated that he could be on a new team at any moment now. The Pelicans and Bulls are two teams who have been mentioned the most in connection to Okafor and given that fact that the second-year center did not travel with the team to Charlotte for Monday’s contest it seems quite evident that he’s on his way out.
That could very well mean that it’s too late for the Jazz to make a move for him anyhow, but let’s still take a look at whether he would be a good fit for Utah.
Okafor was a promising young big man coming into the league as he was the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Yet he’s averaging 11.6 points and a somewhat disappointing 4.8 rebounds for the Sixers this year and it has become quite clear that he does not coexist well alongside Philadelphia phenom Joel Embiid.
And to be quite honest, I’m not completely sold on Okafor myself. Yes, he is still very young and has a lot of potential, but the way the modern NBA game is going, he seems more like a plodding giant rather than the athletic rim protecting big man that teams are looking for. His rebounding numbers are poor for a player his size and he seems to often suffer from a lack of hustle and focus.
Frankly, I’ve had questions about Okafor’s attitude since day one and his noticeable drop in enthusiasm and production as Embiid has emerged as a true force have only solidified those doubts. While I think Utah could very much benefit from a solid backup center, I don’t think that Okafor is the answer by any means.
Verdict: Red Light