Jahlil Okafor is overrated

progressive minds only need apply…seems you are upset but come on now…

he can’t pass out the post?  can’t hit apick and pop?  can’t hit FTs?  It was his rookie year…and the foundation for all these things is right therem he played on the Sixers.

He got double-teamed on a horrible team and had NO guards to kick it out to.

you are right about transition and defense, but he’s working on his game.  He’s not just getting fatter, he lost weight to improve himself in transition.  And on defense I’m with you, it amazes me that a guy with ballerina feet on offense, has cement on his feet on defense.  He’s also not freakishly long.

But, he’s a big boy, and he takes up space.  Guess who else does?  Stephen Adams.  

He’s a 20/10 guy guaranteed and will kill you on a mismatch, and we got Joel Embiid and probably Simmons to help create those mismatches….gimme a break.

For my trade it was something i heard on the radio.  The lakers aren’t winning anything with Russell and Randle, even if you add Ingram to those two.  

I think Ainge (a brilliant GM), is very high on Okafor so Okafor for 3 could happen, but I don’t like the value there (no murray or dunn or hield for oak)

I do want Noel to the Suns for 13 (Kormaz) and Knight.  Can throw in Covington if it helps.  

If I was GM i’d focus on building a team now.  Embiid, Simmons, Ingram, Kormaz, and a PG next year.

progressive minds only need apply…seems you are upset but come on now…

he can’t pass out the post?  can’t hit apick and pop?  can’t hit FTs?  It was his rookie year…and the foundation for all these things is right therem he played on the Sixers.

He got double-teamed on a horrible team and had NO guards to kick it out to.

you are right about transition and defense, but he’s working on his game.  He’s not just getting fatter, he lost weight to improve himself in transition.  And on defense I’m with you, it amazes me that a guy with ballerina feet on offense, has cement on his feet on defense.  He’s also not freakishly long.

But, he’s a big boy, and he takes up space.  Guess who else does?  Stephen Adams.  

He’s a 20/10 guy guaranteed and will kill you on a mismatch, and we got Joel Embiid and probably Simmons to help create those mismatches….gimme a break.

For my trade it was something i heard on the radio.  The lakers aren’t winning anything with Russell and Randle, even if you add Ingram to those two.  

I think Ainge (a brilliant GM), is very high on Okafor so Okafor for 3 could happen, but I don’t like the value there (no murray or dunn or hield for oak)

I do want Noel to the Suns for 13 (Kormaz) and Knight.  Can throw in Covington if it helps.  

If I was GM i’d focus on building a team now.  Embiid, Simmons, Ingram, Kormaz, and a PG next year.

 Almost everything you just said is wrong.  And post scoring is usually inefficient however Jah was actually exceptionally efficient in the post and he was 19.  Hes also a good passer and possibly the best ball handling big man i ever saw.  And hes actually decent at the moment hitting mid range pops but deadly slashing once recieving the ball there.

And hes actually extremely mobile

 Almost everything you just said is wrong.  And post scoring is usually inefficient however Jah was actually exceptionally efficient in the post and he was 19.  Hes also a good passer and possibly the best ball handling big man i ever saw.  And hes actually decent at the moment hitting mid range pops but deadly slashing once recieving the ball there.

And hes actually extremely mobile

 He was the best player on a national championship team. He is lethal on the block. Since when has the evolved to the point when you don’t need anyone on the block to get you buckets. Give him some credit.

 He was the best player on a national championship team. He is lethal on the block. Since when has the evolved to the point when you don’t need anyone on the block to get you buckets. Give him some credit.

 Me and several other posters on here have been in Okafor’s corner from the beginning…

So let’s be for real here, you’re a butt hurt fanboy (likely Celtics or Lakers) and you were probably hoping to poach a 20/10 Center for nothing…

Well lemme tell you a little secret, the 76ers aren’t trading away 20/10 Centers, they aren’t trading DPOY types in Noel or Embiid, they shouldn’t even think about trading versatile F Dario Saric before seeing exactly who he is first…

This should be a simple thing to understand

If you want Okafor, Noel or Saric you’re going to have to come up with a BIG offer, Embiid is the real mystery here, I’m sold on Okafor at C, I’m pretty sold on a PF combo of Noel and Saric or Simmons and Saric if we use Noel as the 3rd Big backing up Ben and Jahlil

 Me and several other posters on here have been in Okafor’s corner from the beginning…

So let’s be for real here, you’re a butt hurt fanboy (likely Celtics or Lakers) and you were probably hoping to poach a 20/10 Center for nothing…

Well lemme tell you a little secret, the 76ers aren’t trading away 20/10 Centers, they aren’t trading DPOY types in Noel or Embiid, they shouldn’t even think about trading versatile F Dario Saric before seeing exactly who he is first…

This should be a simple thing to understand

If you want Okafor, Noel or Saric you’re going to have to come up with a BIG offer, Embiid is the real mystery here, I’m sold on Okafor at C, I’m pretty sold on a PF combo of Noel and Saric or Simmons and Saric if we use Noel as the 3rd Big backing up Ben and Jahlil

Valanciunas is one example of a throwback C that helps his team win. Like Jah his biggest weakness is versatility offensively and defensively but I think Okafor will round out into quite the player. Toronto would not be playing Cleveland without Valanciunas and they cannot even manage to compete with the big fella out.

Granted Okafor and Valanciunas games are much different Okafor could become a game plan buster in the NBA like Valanciunas. When teams go small they will get eaten up. You can’t expect Love, Frye, Thompson to gaurd Valanciunas or Okafor. Although the key for Okafor is too work on his perimeter defence in case teams decide to stretch him out of the paint.

Valanciunas is one example of a throwback C that helps his team win. Like Jah his biggest weakness is versatility offensively and defensively but I think Okafor will round out into quite the player. Toronto would not be playing Cleveland without Valanciunas and they cannot even manage to compete with the big fella out.

Granted Okafor and Valanciunas games are much different Okafor could become a game plan buster in the NBA like Valanciunas. When teams go small they will get eaten up. You can’t expect Love, Frye, Thompson to gaurd Valanciunas or Okafor. Although the key for Okafor is too work on his perimeter defence in case teams decide to stretch him out of the paint.

I was shocked how well he shot free throws and knocked down elbow jumpers.  Very creative with the ball out to 20 ft 

I was shocked how well he shot free throws and knocked down elbow jumpers.  Very creative with the ball out to 20 ft 

 Okafor is the real deal.  He can make his team better, but he is overrated if you project him as a superstar.  He will be a solid 18-20ppg and 8-10 rb player througout his career/

 Okafor is the real deal.  He can make his team better, but he is overrated if you project him as a superstar.  He will be a solid 18-20ppg and 8-10 rb player througout his career/

I agree that Okafor isn’t a great defender given his huge size but I also agree and point out that he can be a rock sold 18-20ppg, 10rpg player for many years in the NBA. A team guaranteed that type of scoring can build the rest of their frontcourt around him or at worse get a good defensive guy to play down the stretch who doesn’t need to score much.

I agree that Okafor isn’t a great defender given his huge size but I also agree and point out that he can be a rock sold 18-20ppg, 10rpg player for many years in the NBA. A team guaranteed that type of scoring can build the rest of their frontcourt around him or at worse get a good defensive guy to play down the stretch who doesn’t need to score much.

There is some truth in what you said but I’m not going to go as far as to say okafor is overrated. Okafors skill set may be a vanishing one in the modern NBA, but it will always hold value. Anytime you have a guy that can consistently get you buckets and force a double team in the low post, that is extremely valuable. Guys like al Jefferson and Brook Lopez have continued to produce at high levels well into this modern era of basketball when low post play is supposedly worthless. You have to remember how young okafor is too. I think he will eventually improve his passing and develop his face up and mid-range game more as well.

I am however not sold on the fact that okafor can be a franchise player for a championship contender. At least not yet anyway. Hes not a great rebounder or rim protector for a player his size. While he could improve in those areas, I believe he will probably always probably somewhat struggle on defense. If he is going to be a building block for your team, than you are going to have to put players around him to compensate for his deficiencies.

A player like okafor usually is most effective in a scenario where he is surrounded by shooters and has as much room as possible to operate out of the post. That’s why I’m not crazy about how he fits with the sixers, who are currently the worst shooting team in the league. I’m just not sure he could ever really reach his potential with the young core they currently have in place there. If they believe okafor is going to be a big part of their future, I think you have to start making roster moves to surround him with players that will help him maximize his potential. If not, than you probably look to trade him soon to capitalize on what his value could bring back to the team.

There is some truth in what you said but I’m not going to go as far as to say okafor is overrated. Okafors skill set may be a vanishing one in the modern NBA, but it will always hold value. Anytime you have a guy that can consistently get you buckets and force a double team in the low post, that is extremely valuable. Guys like al Jefferson and Brook Lopez have continued to produce at high levels well into this modern era of basketball when low post play is supposedly worthless. You have to remember how young okafor is too. I think he will eventually improve his passing and develop his face up and mid-range game more as well.

I am however not sold on the fact that okafor can be a franchise player for a championship contender. At least not yet anyway. Hes not a great rebounder or rim protector for a player his size. While he could improve in those areas, I believe he will probably always probably somewhat struggle on defense. If he is going to be a building block for your team, than you are going to have to put players around him to compensate for his deficiencies.

A player like okafor usually is most effective in a scenario where he is surrounded by shooters and has as much room as possible to operate out of the post. That’s why I’m not crazy about how he fits with the sixers, who are currently the worst shooting team in the league. I’m just not sure he could ever really reach his potential with the young core they currently have in place there. If they believe okafor is going to be a big part of their future, I think you have to start making roster moves to surround him with players that will help him maximize his potential. If not, than you probably look to trade him soon to capitalize on what his value could bring back to the team.

 I mean, just pull up any season highlights of Jah and tell me the dude can’t develop into a really good player. He’s really quick, has solid handle, can pass, and obviously his scoring is gonna be great. I think he’s athletic enough to become a good defender, he just needs some time to learn. You can play him at the 4 or 5, which will be huge if Philly decides to keep him

 I mean, just pull up any season highlights of Jah and tell me the dude can’t develop into a really good player. He’s really quick, has solid handle, can pass, and obviously his scoring is gonna be great. I think he’s athletic enough to become a good defender, he just needs some time to learn. You can play him at the 4 or 5, which will be huge if Philly decides to keep him

I think this whole low post game is dead because the game as evolved to a perimeter style is overlooking a very obvious fact about spacing.

Guys who command a quick double down, or even a guy to look over his shoulder, create space for the shooter. Maybe not on that first kick out, but maybe the 2nd for a hockey assist. Jahlil played for a 10 win team, who happened to be one of the worst shooting teams in the league. He’s got a pretty good feel for the game, and I feel he’s got potential as a post passer.

Not to mention, if he gets a one on one matchup due to perimeter chases and can convert on the block at 60% than per 100 shots, he’ll have the exact SAME amount of points as a guy who took 100 3’s and hit them at 40%. As a rookie, he converted inside of 10 feet at 58%, and with time that will most certainly go up.

Yes, the game has evolved, but that doesn’t mean everything from the half court dominated era is worthless, OR that the game won’t evolve again in another 2 or 3 years when everyone is copying the Warriors, and another team figures out how to dominate in a quicker long range happy league.

I look at talent, and Okafor has talent. I also don’t think he’s that overrated. People know he’s 20, played on a crap team, and has leaps and bounds to go on the defensive end. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone lauding him as the next biggest thing in the league.

I think this whole low post game is dead because the game as evolved to a perimeter style is overlooking a very obvious fact about spacing.

Guys who command a quick double down, or even a guy to look over his shoulder, create space for the shooter. Maybe not on that first kick out, but maybe the 2nd for a hockey assist. Jahlil played for a 10 win team, who happened to be one of the worst shooting teams in the league. He’s got a pretty good feel for the game, and I feel he’s got potential as a post passer.

Not to mention, if he gets a one on one matchup due to perimeter chases and can convert on the block at 60% than per 100 shots, he’ll have the exact SAME amount of points as a guy who took 100 3’s and hit them at 40%. As a rookie, he converted inside of 10 feet at 58%, and with time that will most certainly go up.

Yes, the game has evolved, but that doesn’t mean everything from the half court dominated era is worthless, OR that the game won’t evolve again in another 2 or 3 years when everyone is copying the Warriors, and another team figures out how to dominate in a quicker long range happy league.

I look at talent, and Okafor has talent. I also don’t think he’s that overrated. People know he’s 20, played on a crap team, and has leaps and bounds to go on the defensive end. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone lauding him as the next biggest thing in the league.

He’ll have as much success as the Big Al, Lopez, Cousins, Monroe, Vucevic and co.

A lot of PO games under their belt for a reason.

Great success for the spurs frontcourt in PO.

Celts shouldn’t touch him.

He’ll have as much success as the Big Al, Lopez, Cousins, Monroe, Vucevic and co.

A lot of PO games under their belt for a reason.

Great success for the spurs frontcourt in PO.

Celts shouldn’t touch him.

 No one can Ever answer this question……….. Even Sixers fans who want to trade Okafor……..

Boston Desperatly needs perimeter Shooting……. & w/ Jamal Murray & Buddy Hield sitting right there……….

Ripe for the taking w/ the #3 pick……….. And reportedly Danny Aigne – a Title winning GM who knows Better than Any of us on this site how to Build a Champion……….

And he WANTS Okafor in a BAD way……….

Why is that do you think????? 

 No one can Ever answer this question……….. Even Sixers fans who want to trade Okafor……..

Boston Desperatly needs perimeter Shooting……. & w/ Jamal Murray & Buddy Hield sitting right there……….

Ripe for the taking w/ the #3 pick……….. And reportedly Danny Aigne – a Title winning GM who knows Better than Any of us on this site how to Build a Champion……….

And he WANTS Okafor in a BAD way……….

Why is that do you think????? 

 He wants Okafor in a bad way because he is actually criminally (I’d even saying shockingly) underrated by so many people in the country and is seeing what only a few do which is an absolute low post savant. He knows how big a piece he could be with Brad Stevens, and is trying to pull off one of the biggest coups in the last couple of years because Philly is stupid enough to do it.

Just you guys wait…Okafor will be a monster in Boston if he hopefully goes there.

 He wants Okafor in a bad way because he is actually criminally (I’d even saying shockingly) underrated by so many people in the country and is seeing what only a few do which is an absolute low post savant. He knows how big a piece he could be with Brad Stevens, and is trying to pull off one of the biggest coups in the last couple of years because Philly is stupid enough to do it.

Just you guys wait…Okafor will be a monster in Boston if he hopefully goes there.

Philly would have to be crazy to trade Okafor before seeing what Embiid can bring to the table. Instead of trading Okafor for Hield/Jamaal Murray why not trade Noel for Valentine/Dejaunte Murray and some other assets could likely be thrown in with that.

Philly would have to be crazy to trade Okafor before seeing what Embiid can bring to the table. Instead of trading Okafor for Hield/Jamaal Murray why not trade Noel for Valentine/Dejaunte Murray and some other assets could likely be thrown in with that.

 Revisiting this thread.

Sure got a lot of negs for what seems like a pretty good summary in hindsight.

He’s just not that good. He’s not even as good as Elton Brand or Al Jefferson. As a Sixers fan who watches him a lot, he can’t play any defense, can’t rebound, and he’s an overrated offensive player. He’s a good post scorer and that’s about it. He can’t hit a free throw and he’s an average passer out of the post. Like Embiid, he’s hurt because his team doesn’t have one good jump shooter outside Ilyasova, but even with guys to pass to he doesn’t command double teams like Embiid. You can look at individual statistics and whatever, but bottom line is that the Sixers are a worse team when he’s on the court then when he’s off the court. Honestly, I think the Sixers are not only better off with Noel over Okafor but also Holmes over Okafor, considering Holmes can defend and rebound which is what the Sixers need to back up Embiid. If Okafor was that good, Sixers would’ve traded him already but no one wants him for the asking price because he’s not that good.

To think the Sixers could’ve drafted Porzingis over Okafor……..