Jahlil Okafor

[ItsThatEasy]

I'm just glad we got D-Lo...snitching and all

[Leviathan]

Double post

[Leviathan]

Primarily because 76ers are still rebuilding and Noel is due for a massive contract and 76ers have 2 other big guys to build around.

I would advance the idea that moving the remarkable defensive force for the questionable offensive potential of Okafor is flatly stupid.

NBA is a for profit business. Ignoring the financial implications, is 'flatly stupid' (quoting your phrase).
Noel at his upcoming price tag is unlikely to be profitable as this team is still struggling mightily business wise at this stage.

In NBA 2k, I would agree with you since in video games we are not really shelling out real money to players.

[Winsome Gerbil]

Winslow was the best player on that Duke championship team, not Okafor.

Winslow just got done being destroyed by the much reviled Rudy Gay, so let's just table that talk for the time being.

[Duke4life831]

I know its still early in the season and he is only playing 20 minutes a game but Okafor seems to have made a pretty good stride defensively. Hes protecting the rim with 1.8 blocks per 36 and showing pretty big improvements on the PnR defense. Im not saying hes a stud defender already, but hes playing pretty good D for a 20 year old big. He started off the season slow offensively but looked like last game he started to get his offense going.

I know many people didnt like Okafor because they dont like bigs that cant defend and dont rebound. His lack of rim protection was always overblown, but with his good rim protection and improving team defense, ya he doesnt put up big rebounding numbers but his team did rebound better with him on the court last year compared to when he was off.

I get why hes not the starter for the future with Philly with Embiid and I can get why a team doesnt want to do a twin tower approach (even though I think it can still work). Curious on how many people would want Okafor on their team if he can show he can be a plus defender.

[CoreyGallagher]

I know its still early in the season and he is only playing 20 minutes a game but Okafor seems to have made a pretty good stride defensively. Hes protecting the rim with 1.8 blocks per 36 and showing pretty big improvements on the PnR defense. Im not saying hes a stud defender already, but hes playing pretty good D for a 20 year old big. He started off the season slow offensively but looked like last game he started to get his offense going.

I know many people didnt like Okafor because they dont like bigs that cant defend and dont rebound. His lack of rim protection was always overblown, but with his good rim protection and improving team defense, ya he doesnt put up big rebounding numbers but his team did rebound better with him on the court last year compared to when he was off.

I get why hes not the starter for the future with Philly with Embiid and I can get why a team doesnt want to do a twin tower approach (even though I think it can still work). Curious on how many people would want Okafor on their team if he can show he can be a plus defender.

Small sample size, but the Sixers with Okafor in the game have allowed 93.4 points per 100 possessions, without him they're allowing 108.7 points per 100 possessions. That won't hold up, but shows he's at least been effective in his role and playing at least improved defense early in the season.

Last game against Cleveland was his best performance thus far, 14 points (7-11) 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal in 23 minutes. He had some lapses, but his on/off net rating this game was +43.4 (on +21.5, off -21.9) - which is huge.

[Kobblehead]

I know its still early in the season and he is only playing 20 minutes a game but Okafor seems to have made a pretty good stride defensively. Hes protecting the rim with 1.8 blocks per 36 and showing pretty big improvements on the PnR defense. Im not saying hes a stud defender already, but hes playing pretty good D for a 20 year old big. He started off the season slow offensively but looked like last game he started to get his offense going.

I know many people didnt like Okafor because they dont like bigs that cant defend and dont rebound. His lack of rim protection was always overblown, but with his good rim protection and improving team defense, ya he doesnt put up big rebounding numbers but his team did rebound better with him on the court last year compared to when he was off.

I get why hes not the starter for the future with Philly with Embiid and I can get why a team doesnt want to do a twin tower approach (even though I think it can still work). Curious on how many people would want Okafor on their team if he can show he can be a plus defender.

He's tolerable on his rookie contract. When it comes time for him to get paid, I don't want a non-rebounding, non drive deterring big on my team.

[Duke4life831]

I know its still early in the season and he is only playing 20 minutes a game but Okafor seems to have made a pretty good stride defensively. Hes protecting the rim with 1.8 blocks per 36 and showing pretty big improvements on the PnR defense. Im not saying hes a stud defender already, but hes playing pretty good D for a 20 year old big. He started off the season slow offensively but looked like last game he started to get his offense going.

I know many people didnt like Okafor because they dont like bigs that cant defend and dont rebound. His lack of rim protection was always overblown, but with his good rim protection and improving team defense, ya he doesnt put up big rebounding numbers but his team did rebound better with him on the court last year compared to when he was off.

I get why hes not the starter for the future with Philly with Embiid and I can get why a team doesnt want to do a twin tower approach (even though I think it can still work). Curious on how many people would want Okafor on their team if he can show he can be a plus defender.

Small sample size, but the Sixers with Okafor in the game have allowed 93.4 points per 100 possessions, without him they're allowing 108.7 points per 100 possessions. That won't hold up, but shows he's at least been effective in his role and playing at least improved defense.

Last game against Cleveland was his best performance thus far, 14 points (7-11) 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a steal in 23 minutes. He had some lapses, but his on/off net rating this game was +43.4 (on +21.5, off -21.9).

Ya definitely a small sample size. Im just looking at it as hes still only 20 and is showing signs of improvement on the defensive end. That has been the biggest question when it comes to him is will he ever be a plus on the defensive end.

[Statlanta]

If I had a team filled with 3 and D wings and a defensive Center, which looks to be the new template for the league, I would take a flyer on him. With more and more wings playing at his natural position he can feast on those guys with his moves and he would be only defending a 3pt shooter on the other end(most likely a stand-still one as opposed to one using screens). I think team's with the right build should take a chance as I think you don't have to lose much around his weaknesses than you gain with his strengths.

[Duke4life831]

If I had a team filled with 3 and D wings and a defensive Center, which looks to be the new template for the league, I would take a flyer on him. With more and more wings playing at his natural position he can feast on those guys with his moves and he would be only defending a 3pt shooter on the other end(most likely a stand-still one as opposed to one using screens). I think team's with the right build should take a chance as I think you don't have to lose much around his weaknesses than you gain with his strengths.

Ya I feel like Stan Van could build a pretty solid team with him. Stan Van just seems to know how to build a team around his big man.

[SelfishPlayer]

Look at the crappy guards this man has played with and imagine how much better he would be if he played with true NBA caliber guards and not Nik Stauskas, Gerald Henderson, Sergio Rodriguez, Ish Smith, and TJ McConnell.

[babyjax13]

It's so strange to me that people are willing to write of Okafor's defense after 2/3 of a season of play. He has all the physical tools to be a good defender (not just a neutral one). If I were a team that needed a center, I'd be willing to send out a lot of assets for that potential.

[Duke4life831]

It's so strange to me that people are willing to write of Okafor's defense after 2/3 of a season of play. He has all the physical tools to be a good defender (not just a neutral one). If I were a team that needed a center, I'd be willing to send out a lot of assets for that potential.

Yup 6'11 with a 7'6 wingspan and is very strong. And hes not a plodding of a big as people make him out to be. He has the tools to be a plus defender. Again I dont think he will go from being a horrible defender to an all defense type guy like Marc Gasol did. But him turning himself into a plus defender I can definitely see coming. And if he can become a plus defender with his ability to score, I still think teams in the NBA today can be successful with a big like that.

[Edug27]

So who does Philly move at the deadline? Noel or Okafor? Or neither?

[tsherkin]

So who does Philly move at the deadline? Noel or Okafor? Or neither?

Okafor, of those two...

[76thBearCub]

So who does Philly move at the deadline? Noel or Okafor? Or neither?

Okafor, of those two...

Maybe thats what we should do, but all reports would indicate otherwise.

[tsherkin]

So who does Philly move at the deadline? Noel or Okafor? Or neither?

Okafor, of those two...

Maybe thats what we should do, but all reports would indicate otherwise.

I'll be sad for Philly if they move Noels instead.

[LloydFree]

From everything coming from Philly, Jah is off the table as of right now. Noel is going to be the one moved.

Primarily because 76ers are still rebuilding and Noel is due for a massive contract and 76ers have 2 other big guys to build around.

I would advance the idea that moving the remarkable defensive force for the questionable offensive potential of Okafor is flatly stupid.

Pretty much this.

[MotownMadness]

Okafor, of those two...

Maybe thats what we should do, but all reports would indicate otherwise.

I'll be sad for Philly if they move Noels instead.

Why? It's going to cost a lot of money to keep him as Embiids backup. Why not just keep Okafor on a rookie deal for the next couple seasons?

[E-Balla]

Maybe thats what we should do, but all reports would indicate otherwise.

I'll be sad for Philly if they move Noels instead.

Why? It's going to cost a lot of money to keep him as Embiids backup. Why not just keep Okafor on a rookie deal for the next couple seasons?

Why not move both? All 3 are true Cs and they have 2 young PFs already along with 2 serviceable backup bigs. They really need talented Gs and wings and those two should return a lot.