[jaysmith1987Participant]

 I’m surprised there isn’t a team willing to take a flyer on this guy.  I understand the rave is pace and space but I can’t believe at least one team doesn’t try and employ a different style it wasn’t that long ago that the pace and space was frowned at and was deemed not able to win a championship.  I could see him excelling in Memphis next to a guy like Gasol in the grit and grind attack. I think it’s crazy a guy who in a different era would have been a superstar is relegated to bench minutes when he’s such a reliable scorer.

[JordanC20Participant]

 Yeah he’s a great post scorer I actually learned a lot of post moves watching him at Duke and online I think he’s got a good future but it won’t be in Philly.

[ph90702]

 He came along 10 years too late.  That simple.

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Cant defend the pick n roll, needs the ball and a slower pace offense to be efficient.. Hes pretty much Eddy Curry without the Fast Food addiction..

[Celtics3178Participant]

 It’s funny you say the grizzlies because I think he would fit perfect in Utah. They play the slowest pace in the NBA and he could provide them with some solid depth behind the Frenchman and favors. I think teams are willing to take a risk but philly doesn’t want to give him up for nothing. I don’t think he will ever be a star he’s a poor mans Drummond but he can def play. He could start on the hawks and nets. The nets have been taking risks on young players in shocked they haven’t offered something for him. 

[MatosParticipant]

Firstly, Drummond is a terible comparison on all fronts except free throw shooting. They’re both abysmal. Secondly, Utah isn’t a great fit. They need a stretch big.

[IlladelphParticipant]

 The 2015 draft was pretty weak overall.  KAT at #1 worked out.  Devin Booker at 13 was an incredible steal.  The rest of the draft was pretty blah.  Jahlil Okafor at #3 now seems like a bust for where he was taken.  Sixers should have picked KP, or Booker instead.  Okafor doesn’t seem to be interested in defense, and cannot stretch the floor.  He would have been better off in the NBA of the ’80s or ’90s, but he still would have been limited because of his lack of defense.

[MatosParticipant]

"The rest of the draft was pretty blah"? Then the next sentence you mentioned Porzingis???

Too early to call many of them busts. 

KAT, Booker, KP, and Myles Turner all look like future all-stars. Justice Winslow has great upside and could be a future all-star if he continues  to develop his jumper. 

Hernangomez and Powel are serviceable.

Jury still out on D-Lo, Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, Oubre, Bobby Portis on living up to their potentials.

 

 

[IlladelphParticipant]

Matos – Other than KAT, Booker, and KP,  none of the players in this draft class have done much.  All of the players you list really haven’t done much.  Kelly Oubre?  Very average player.  Emmanuel Mudiay?  Worst VORP, and WS of any player taken in  he draft who actually played an NBA game.  Stanley Johnson? Andrew Harrison has better stats.  

In my opinion, the top 10 players from that draft are:

1.  KAT by a country mile.

2.  KP

3.  Myles Turner

4.  Devin Booker

5.  Larry Nance jr.

6.  Josh Richardson

7.  Richaun Holmes

8.  Willie Cauley-Stein

9.  Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

10.  D’Angelo Russell

Have a nice day.

[Miko4rm206Participant]

 I think the Bulls should Definetely be looking to Bring him back home. Maybe the hawks A John Collins/Jahlil okafor front court would be fun 2 watch. Maybe even the nets could get another young piece with potential other than Fostering all these bad contracts.

Otherwise I can see him in a Enes Kanter type 6th man role. If I’m the Raptors, Wizards, Spurs maybe Rockets in looking at him as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 These are the Teams he could work on/Start on:

Detroit- I see him being a perfect fit for running Stan V’s offense-1 in and four out and the best part is he can shoot F/T’s better than Drummond. They would however need a stretch four that could help him on the defensive end though…

Indianna with Myles Turner would be interesting.

and  

The Spurs : He could be a better version of L.A and younger + cheaper…Also Pop could help develop him further..

Other wise I see him as a 6th man on most teams in the league..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Hate Aldridge and I think would easily trade him.  Why?  he’s a ballstopper (like Jah), not a good defender (like Jah).  The difference is Jah is more of a post bucket scorer and I think that is becoming rare in teh NBA.

The key to Jah is to use him in spots.  I think if an offense were to center themselves around him, he’d put up really good numbers like 22 and 8.  The problem is he’s not a good defender so his plus/minus has always been poor.

But as a bench player, you match him up.  Against NBA backups, Jah would smoke them.  I hated the Sixers at some points especially the way they use Jah because they would want to jack up shots, and not engage Jah.

Play Jah like 15 minutes, but when he is in there against lesser players, pound it into him.  Not having a true PG was their problem.  Now they’ll have Simmons running the show, and he will know when to get Jah touches against weaker bigs.

He’s a great scorer, you just have to minimize his negatives.  Cover up his D somehow by playing him against lesser bigs.  Save Embiid’s legs by playing Jah against bad teams to get him going.

The problem with Jah is I think he needs to play within the flow of a game, so he is comforatble as a starter.  If he could come off the bench, be instantly warm, and then start pounding dudes in the paint it’d be perfect.  If I was the Sixers I’d make sure he stays on a bike during the game to be warm, and then play him with Simmons who can help defend in the paint and also know when exactly to find him in the post.

The other thing I really dislike about Jah is something Embiid noted, that Jah doesn’t play hard all the time.  When he plays with other good players, he plays hard.  He needs to get that Iverson mentality and go all out for his limited minutes.  Jah is passive at times, especially on the defensive end, and when he doesn’t get touches on the offensive side.

I think the Sixers will trade him, but I hope Simmons with him brings out his best.  I know Simmons and Holmes have a great connection as well, and I absolutely cannot wait to see Simmons and Embiid out there, but Simmons and Okafor should also be a really nice setup.

More I think about it, I wasn’t happy with Saric and the way he coudln’t figure out how to play with Jah.  I don’t think Brett Brown did a good job with instructing them how to play together and again, get Jah touches.  

I love Saric, but I actually think he’d be the player I trade.  As much as I like him for the process, i’d want to replace Saric with a longer stretch 4 that can rebound.  Kevin Love would be a great fit.  

 

[HobbyOGParticipant]

 He would excel with the Spurs, POP works magic with players like him. 

[2quick4uParticipant]

 i think okafor should move from the sixers as he doesn’t fit at all on that team, with those players, with that style of play and that pace.

if okafor wants to have success in the league, he really needs to update himself as his game doesn’t fit today’s needs for a PF, if he doesn’t, he’ll never be anything more than a good role player.

okafor is a very skilled offensive player but has 2 big problems: 

1. he doesn’t play defense at all, and what is worst, doesn’t seem to care.

2. he doesn’t shoot 3’s, and doesn’t even have a jumper.

the good news for him are that he has the tools to improve that. Okafor is 6’11 with a 7’5 wingspan so he has the length to be a respectable rim protector and rebounder; also, although he doesn’t have great lateral quickness, he’s shown through his offensive game that he actually is very fluid and coordinated so if he puts effort, he could be fine defending pick&rolls.

he’s also shown he’s a very efficient scorer and has a nice touch, so he could develope a consistent 18-20 feet jumper, which he absolutely needs in today’s game, especially if he wants to become an important player. I think that shot would be enough to be a threat, and would’t not need to shoot from 3.

one last fundamental aspect he should develope is his passing, which he’s also shown he’s very capable of; today’s big men need to be able to find teammates, especially if you want to become more than just a one dimensional role player.

okafor’s body and offensive skills are very similar to the ones of players like al jefferson, greg monroe, jusuf nurkic, derrick favors, willy hernangomez, demarcus cousins or jokic; depending on his desire and on how willing he is to improve and update his game/body, and on how much effort he puts on the court, it will determine the type of player he becomes.

the players above are examples of the type of player he could become depending on his will/desire to improve or not.

right now, he is like an al jefferson clone, the problem is that type of player is obsolete today and that’s why if he decided to not work/improve as a player, he won’t be anything more than a good role player. That’s why monroe is relegated to the bench, as he is also that type of player but even less talented than jefferson or okafor.

if he decided to put more effort and energy on defense but without developing his 3 point shot, he could develope into a derrick favors (healthy)/nurkic type of player, that is a respectable defender/rim protector with a balanced offensive game; willy hernangomez is quietly moving toward that direction, he might not be as talented as okafor or favors/nurkic ,but his size and effort on defense plus his nice post game and his jumper in progress, are already guaranteeing him a spot as a starter in NY.

at last, if he wanted to become an all-star type of player, that is, a player ala demarcous cousins or nikola jokic, he should put a lot of work to improve his shot and extend it to the 3 point line; not only that, but he would have to improve also his passing and become a reliable facilitator.

again, the good news for him are that he is perfecly capable of achiving anything he wants, because he’s young, has the talent and has the physical tools, it’s "only" a matter of desire and will.

if he wants some advice, he should ask marc gasol; people don’t understand how much effort this guy has put to change his body and his game to become the player he is today; in fact although 2 inches taller than okafor, marc has a similar type of body and talent, but what people don’t know, is how marc gasol’s body looked until he was 20 year old and the effort he’s made to upgrade his game every year to finally become an all-star (sorry is in spanish but look picture): buzz.eurosport.es/redes-sociales/asi-es-el-espectacular-cambio-fisico-de-marc-gasol-desde-el-instituto-ser-referente-en-la-nba-31154/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MatosParticipant]

 Yep. I was going to say the Spurs. Everything about him to me coming into the league screamed "send this guy to the Spurs". He excels best in the half-court offense and although today’s league is fast paced, no team has been able to excel in the half-court as well as the Spurs. No team has also been able to develop their youngsters like the Spurs too. My guess is they either:

1) Targeted him for a trade at some point during the season and then dropped that when he started having off-the-court issues (Spurs don’t play that shit)

or

2) They did enough scouting on him pre-draft and during his first two years to know that certain parts of his game are un-fixable even with the their coaching/development staff.

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Jah is clearly one dimensional.  Tim Duncan was Tim Duncan, he was fundamental, but his greatest asset was his Perfect and Gifted Body.  Look at Duncan’s length and mobility, its unreal.  He was a swimmer playing basketball.  

Everyone else in the Spurs system is just a product fo the system.  You don’t see Gary Neal kickign butt in the NBA right now do you?  The system is great and before they had Duncan, and now they have Kawhi, so always been blessed to run their system with some of the top players…

Aldridge is a guy they are trying to trade…its not like they’ve done wonders with Aldridge…why?  Because he’s not Tim Duncan!  Not even close.  

I don’t think Jah will ever be a great system passer.  The only place he needs to go is on a team that emphasizes feeding the big man in good spots.

In Philly Jah has had a lot of summer league talent around him that don’t understand basketball basics.

Put him on a team with a real NBA PG, and watch and see.  I’d love to see Lonzo Ball and Simmons conduct the offense once they know their talent.  Jah will be the recipient of Ben Simmons running things…

and Brett Brown was a great player developer in SA.  What happened with Jah?  Come on, its the talent they have, the system, and the ability of their players to play both ways.

You could whip Jah all day, he will never be a good defender/rebounder in this league.  

  

[MatosParticipant]

 You cant compare the development of Aldridge to the development of Okafor. Aldridge is 32 years old. He’s not adding much to his arsenal at that age. And Brett Brown’s development skills have nothing to do with this. Okafor is a terrible fit in Philly and with them giving all the attention to developing Embiid as the future.

Fact is Okafor is still raw. While he’s still young (only 21) he should be traded to a team like the Spurs. Yes the Spurs have a good system but when is the last time they had a 21 year old (once highly projected) big man to develop? 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

He never will be.  To be on the Spurs you are expected to play D at every position, and Jah will never be a good defender in this league, count on it.   

[MatosParticipant]

 Never said he’d be Duncan. Just said that they haven’t had a big scouted that high and that young since then. You’re underestimating Spurs development staff. Even with you’re notion that they make anyone better, making a 21 year old big who averaged 15 and 6 through two seasons better is an outstanding opportuinity for both sides.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Rather like Kanter his defensive liabilities will always be an issue, he isn’t quick enough to play PF so you cannot stick him alongside a top defensive anchor. I’m not sure about the Spurs for him as Poppovich’s team is always built on defence and hard work. It makes you wonder what would have happened if Lakers or Knicks had taken him, he’d have potentially got slaughtered by the fanbase for his lack of defence but maybe having a year alongside Kobe and longer with MWP, he’d have been forced to work on that part of his game. Likewise the Knicks triangle may have suited his game.

The issue with moving him is that Philly will never get any sort of return on his draft value and the longer they wait, the more his value may decline. I know that Charlotte have got D12 but might Okafor appeal to them as a frontcourt scorer.

The frustrating thing about Okafor is with his size, he should be a good defender and having a year at Duke with John K should have helped that part of his game but it didn’t really.

 

 

[OllstarParticipant]

Okafor actually compares very closely to Derrick Favors in terms of offensive and defensive stats. He gives up about 50% of all post up and spot up shots on him. He actually only shoots 44% from the post himself. He doesn’t get many putbacks and often is too slow to get a bucket as the rollman. On defense he actually defended the pick and roll respectfully allowing the opposing rollman to shoot 37% on those possessions. Okafor is not a threat as a spot up big man or transition rim runner. If Jahlil wasn’t a 50% iso scorer I don’t think he would be in the league….

[Robb_CParticipant]

Anyone who says he belongs on the Spurs or any other slow pace team should reevaluate that statement.. I personally think Jahlil would be suited in a higher tempo attack and be used as a change of pace player.. especially in the playoffs.. Jahlil would give a high tempo attack an extra layer of offense. He’s actually pretty mobile and runs the floor well.. He just needs to be in with a defensive 4 or 3 that allows hin to sag off the defense and play back while his teammates ICE the Pick N Roll

[holefillers1Participant]

 I see Enes Kanter in his style of play and his potential minutes in a rotation other than the Sixers.  Kanter will play 25 min when the matchup dictates. I remember games against Houston and GS, he barely played.  

As far as big men go in this NBA, it has more to do with stretching the floor than low post scoring and even defense.  Look at Nerlens Noel still unsigned.  Definitely a place for Okafor but its as a 18-25mpg big.  Either start him or bring him off the bench, but you better have a second big that can stretch the floor or rim run and play D.  

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

why can’t teams buck the trend, if the new NBA requires everyone to shoot including your big to give you space, then why shoulnd’t have 4 shooters along with a postup beast be able to work too.

The league is caught up with the efficiency of the 3 point shot, but more importantly teams don’t realize Draymond Green and the Splash Brothers and KD are an ENIGMA.  

Very few rosters will have the 3 point shooting that the warriors do, and certainly without their defense.

its the reason Brandon Jennings is barely surviving in the NBA, and Lou Williams hans’t reached all-star potential because Lou Williams is a great scorer too.

I think the lack of game controlling Magic Johnson esque PGs are pretty poor right now in the modern NBA, the IQ is low because these kids play 1 year of college.  

a BIG man can work.  You mean to tell me Shaq because he can’t shoot 3s could not play in today’s NBA?  

You make teams adjust to you.  Take advantage of opportunities and matchups.  The Sixers have the luxury of having Jah as a backup player.  Instead of giving him minutes and then making him watch Hollis Thompson and Jakarr Sampson jack up shots, how about you get some high IQ ballers that will feed him in good spots.

I’d love to see Jah pound weaker post players.  I’d love to see Jah on a GOOD team, playing against the Warriors, and that team just feeds him the ball for the 15 or 20 minutes he plays and watches him go to work and get Draymond in fould trouble. 

There is no way Draymond will cover Embiid/Okafor/Holmes.  

Just use your personnel properly, no need to teach everyone 3s.

Again, I’m pretty sure Shaq would be the FORCE that he was, in today’s NBA.  Y’all act like Shaq would ride the pine.  

  

[HitsterParticipant]

 Shaq was a monster who could play in any era, sure he may not have been able to guard a stretch, 3 point shooting 5 but none of them would be able to defend him. Shaq was dropping 27-29ppg against Hakeem, Mutombo etc so what he’d do at his peak in today’s NBA I dread to think.

[holefillers1Participant]

 Jah ain’t Shaq.  Big men need to be able to score, rebound, defend or shoot.  Okafor does one of those four things and it doesn’t come within the flow of the offense, it’s mostly iso.  You can pound Okafor in the half court but your transition and half court D will suffer. That is why you need a second big.  

[Author]

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