Where is Jahlil Okafor?

[Mik317]

Not really but if he shows improvement in the exhibition games then maybe. I think make no mistake. He's firmly behind Embiid and Holmes. Okafor is the 3rd center. He has to outplay Holmes to earn getting ANY minutes in games besides playing the final 5 minute in a blowout.

There could be different lineups for matchups.

Stauskus
TLC
Saric
Holmes
Okafor

Holmes could help Okafor on defense. Saric could be the main playmaker, 2 good 3 pt shooters on the wings.

Saric at the 3 and Holmes at the 4 and Okafor at the 5 is a recipe for disaster. They would get outscored fairly easily.

I mean yeah but despite his cool blocks Holmes isn't exactly a shut down guy himself either...so Dario/Holmes off the bench is going to have make up for it offensively anyway.

Honestly the rotation should be smart enough so one of Simmons or Embiid is always on the floor at all times, for offensive or defensive reasons. I also suspect Fultz ends up playing a lot of 2 and TJ and Bayless initiating a lot more than people like. TLC, Stauskas, Korkmaz and Anderson will often get hosed with their minutes as well. Jah is going to get some burn...people need to get ready for that **** now. I could even see that **** bull twin towers experiment at times again...good lawd.

[Chris76]

There could be different lineups for matchups.

Stauskus
TLC
Saric
Holmes
Okafor

Holmes could help Okafor on defense. Saric could be the main playmaker, 2 good 3 pt shooters on the wings.

Saric at the 3 and Holmes at the 4 and Okafor at the 5 is a recipe for disaster. They would get outscored fairly easily.

I mean yeah but despite his cool blocks Holmes isn't exactly a shut down guy himself either...so Dario/Holmes off the bench is going to have make up for it offensively anyway.

Honestly the rotation should be smart enough so one of Simmons or Embiid is always on the floor at all times, for offensive or defensive reasons. I also suspect Fultz ends up playing a lot of 2 and TJ and Bayless initiating a lot more than people like. TLC, Stauskas, Korkmaz and Anderson will often get hosed with their minutes as well. Jah is going to get some burn...people need to get ready for that **** now. I could even see that **** bull twin towers experiment at times again...good lawd.

When Embiid is out,

Fultz
Redick
Covington
Simmons
Okafor

Sixers could have 2 good scoring centers, BB should have several options for different match ups.

[Kolkmania]

Amir Johnson will receive some minutes at the 5 as well. Jah has to show huge improvements during training camp otherwise he should be cut, the 6 million dollar can be spend more wisely than on a 5th or 6th big.

[Kolkmania]

Amir Johnson will receive some minutes at the 5 as well. Jah has to show huge improvements during training camp otherwise his option shouldn't be exercised, the 6 million dollar can be spend more wisely than on a 5th or 6th big.

[ankle420breaker]

Pretty sure Amir and Holmes will both end up ahead of Jah on the depth chart. That said, I'm sure we'll have some injuries and he'll find some minutes.

Jah and Stauskas are both house money guys this year. Both have a lot to prove while playing for new contracts. Both also have loads of competition just to secure their bench roles.

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[LloydFree]

And one of the worst things in the Eulogy of the Okafor pick will be that we were the last team to make that particular mistake. Teams are too smart to select a Center in the high Lottery that couldn''t rebound, block shots or play defense at the college level. We'll be the last team to learn the hard way.

[76ciology]

For Jah, he's just got to do better reads on D and be more active in grabbing rebounds. Be like one of those unathletic euro centers like Zaza,Gortat, Valanciunas, Jokic or Nurkic.

Then offensively, he just needs to learn how play in the flow of the offense like scoring as a roll man, spacing the floor and making plays as a passer.

ISO and postplay are good but not as a primary even if you are elite. Both are more like a hail mary to salvage an offensive possession that is going nowhere or in the event of a small guy defending at you when defense switch.

He will eventually get it someday and that would take a lot of time and see him ending up a career like an Evan Turner of centers that he is very skilled for his position but he is very limited natural gifts that limits him to be more than a role player.

Until then it will be fun to root for him (everyone loves a challenge), but i'm pretty sure everyone doesn't expect much from him.

[Unbreakable99]

Let's say 20 games in Okafor somehow played well. Let's say he plays like Kanter and he actually rebounds. Do you think we might be able to get a late 1st for him?

[Chris76]

For Jah, he's just got to do better reads on D and be more active in grabbing rebounds. Be like one of those unathletic euro centers like Zaza,Gortat, Valanciunas, Jokic or Nurkic.

Then offensively, he just needs to learn how play in the flow of the offense like scoring as a roll man, spacing the floor and making plays as a passer.

ISO and postplay are good but not as a primary even if you are elite. Both are more like a hail mary to salvage an offensive possession that is going nowhere or in the event of a small guy defending at you when defense switch.

He will eventually get it someday and that would take a lot of time and see him ending up a career like an Evan Turner of centers that he is very skilled for his position but he is very limited natural gifts that limits him to be more than a role player.

Until then it will be fun to root for him (everyone loves a challenge), but i'm pretty sure everyone doesn't expect much from him.

Okafor could be a great option to finish around 10 ft from the basket. He struggled against doubles, teams easily cheated on him.

A role player that provides elite post play could be valuable. For example, Livingston provides good post up play for GSW, as a wing. Okafor could provide the same spark from the center spot.

Amir, Holmes, and Kantar don't provide the scoring that Okafor could. Sure, his defensive liabilities have been debated, but there is a chance he can improve on them. Better health, coaching, experience, and attitude should help.

[TTP]

Aren't you curious to see if Okafor has improved?

TJ/Bayless
TLC/Stauskus
Anderson/Korkman
Saric/Amir
Okafor/Holmes

Not a bad bench. He could look like a much better player.

Not really but if he shows improvement in the exhibition games then maybe. I think make no mistake. He's firmly behind Embiid and Holmes. Okafor is the 3rd center. He has to outplay Holmes to earn getting ANY minutes in games besides playing the final 5 minute in a blowout.

There could be different lineups for matchups.

Stauskus
TLC
Saric
Holmes
Okafor

Holmes could help Okafor on defense. Saric could be the main playmaker, 2 good 3 pt shooters on the wings.

This lineup is terrible. You advocate using a lineup with one plus 3 point shooter and one plus defender. No spacing and no defense. Saric, Okafor, and Holmes would all clog the paint.

[sixerswillrule]

There will be two of Embiid, Holmes, Amir, and Okafor together on the floor next season for 5 minutes per game at the maximum. More likely closer to 0 mpg than 5.

[HartfordWhalers]

There will be two of Embiid, Holmes, Amir, and Okafor together on the floor next season for 5 minutes per game at the maximum. More likely closer to 0 mpg than 5.

I will take the over on that. Amir might play 5 with Embiid alone.

[sixerswillrule]

There will be two of Embiid, Holmes, Amir, and Okafor together on the floor next season for 5 minutes per game at the maximum. More likely closer to 0 mpg than 5.

I will take the over on that. Amir might play 5 with Embiid alone.

We'll see. I think there is more benefit to staggering Simmons and Saric minutes as much as possible, i.e. by never/almost never playing two of the other bigs together. If they are disgruntled then so be it.

And I'm pretty sure Amir usually defended 5s last season and Horford defended 4s. Embiid should never defend 4s.

[76ciology]

Let's say 20 games in Okafor somehow played well. Let's say he plays like Kanter and he actually rebounds. Do you think we might be able to get a late 1st for him?

I was thinking bout the same thing. I guess yes if a desperate playoff team wants to bulk up before the playoff run.

[Kolkmania]

Let's say 20 games in Okafor somehow played well. Let's say he plays like Kanter and he actually rebounds. Do you think we might be able to get a late 1st for him?

I was thinking bout the same thing. I guess yes if a desperate playoff team wants to bulk up before the playoff run.

And then what? Bench Okafor because he can't defend high pick and rolls? Even Kanter couldn't crack the rotation at one point because he got killed on the defensive end.

He looks slimmer than ever, so perhaps he finally realized that he needs more lateral agility. We'll see how he performs in the exhibition games, but I'm skeptical. Defense is 50% reading the offense and you can lose 100 lbs, if you don't react in time you're not in position to contest shots.

It sounds harsh but I think not exercising his 4th year option is the best choice. Even if does improve we won't have the money to extend his contract after his rookie contract since there are better ways to spend our money with Embiid on the roster. The theoretical value he could return in a trade is minimal anyway.

[76ciology]

Let's say 20 games in Okafor somehow played well. Let's say he plays like Kanter and he actually rebounds. Do you think we might be able to get a late 1st for him?

I was thinking bout the same thing. I guess yes if a desperate playoff team wants to bulk up before the playoff run.

And then what? Bench Okafor because he can't defend high pick and rolls? Even Kanter couldn't crack the rotation at one point because he got killed on the defensive end.

He looks slimmer than ever, so perhaps he finally realized that he needs more lateral agility. We'll see how he performs in the exhibition games, but I'm skeptical. Defense is 50% reading the offense and you can lose 100 lbs, if you don't react in time you're not in position to contest shots.

It sounds harsh but I think not exercising his 4th year option is the best choice. Even if does improve we won't have the money to extend his contract after his rookie contract since there are better ways to spend our money with Embiid on the roster. The theoretical value he could return in a trade is minimal anyway.

Ok

[Chris76]

Let's say 20 games in Okafor somehow played well. Let's say he plays like Kanter and he actually rebounds. Do you think we might be able to get a late 1st for him?

I was thinking bout the same thing. I guess yes if a desperate playoff team wants to bulk up before the playoff run.

And then what? Bench Okafor because he can't defend high pick and rolls? Even Kanter couldn't crack the rotation at one point because he got killed on the defensive end.

He looks slimmer than ever, so perhaps he finally realized that he needs more lateral agility. We'll see how he performs in the exhibition games, but I'm skeptical. Defense is 50% reading the offense and you can lose 100 lbs, if you don't react in time you're not in position to contest shots.

It sounds harsh but I think not exercising his 4th year option is the best choice. Even if does improve we won't have the money to extend his contract after his rookie contract since there are better ways to spend our money with Embiid on the roster. The theoretical value he could return in a trade is minimal anyway.

Good points. Okafor's lateral agility and overall awareness was very poor. He was not ready for team defense.

He has had 2 years to get ready. He could improve in those areas.
If he doesn't improve, we let him walk.

If he does improve, the Sixers will have 2 good scoring bigs. Add that to Simmons, Fultz, and everyone else, Okafor could be an option that BB can use in certain situations. I can't understand why that's such a bad option, especially with Embiid's health concerns.

[zimpy27]

Okafor is a big disappointment. Just imagine having Porzee instead..

[HotelVitale]

Okafor is a big disappointment. Just imagine having Porzee instead..

Evan Turner is a big disappointment. Just imagine having Cousins/Hayward/George instead. Imagine having Kawhi or Jimmy Butler or Draymond or Giannis or Gobert instead. Imagine.

[zimpy27]

Okafor is a big disappointment. Just imagine having Porzee instead..

Evan Turner is a big disappointment. Just imagine having Cousins/Hayward/George instead. Imagine having Kawhi or Jimmy Butler or Draymond or Giannis or Gobert instead. Imagine.

Reportedly Hinkie wanted Porzingis and management overruled him.