The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Jahlil Okafor
C - 6’11, 260lbs - 22 years old - 3 years of experience
Okafor’s career could not have gone much worse thus far. I cannot think of another player who suffered as sharp of a decline as this; 17.5 points per game as a rookie, fourth year option declined, unplayable by year three.
Notwithstanding rumours of trade-stifling injury and proven disinterest in defence and rebounding, there is no reason why Okafor could not have the same sort of career that Greg Monroe does right now. It is true to say that Monroe’s career right now involves coming off the bench in a limited role in his prime, and that with the Celtics, he was not even doing that. Yet despite his limitations, it is indisputable that Monroe is good at what he does, a highly adept mid-range-and-in scorer with touch, moves, poise and size, who is also a good passer at his position.
Okafor could be that, too. Maybe, considering that the NBA’s small ball revolution has not totally negated the role of post players but merely raised the skill level required to play as one, a skilled player like Okafor could still be an impactful player in some capacity. So why isn’t he?
Everything about his time on the court lacks rhythm, cohesion and intensity. It is not a good sign that a team that is targeting Redrafts and Reclamations could not play a 22-year-old third-year #2 pick centre in meaningless late-season games at the backup centre spot over two journeyman combo forwards in Acy and Cunningham. Defensively out of position, not ready to compete; offensively, has to slow the game to a crawl to be incorporated, particularly jarring on a high pace team. Even when given post touches, Okafor turns it over a ton, misses a lot of lay-ups and never gets to the line. The thing he is supposed to be good at, he was not that good at. So how did we get here, and where do we go from here now?
Player Plan: Entering unrestricted free agency. Cannot be offered more than $6,313,832 to re-sign, though I cannot see an inability to pay him more being a problem somehow. With so much youth still on his side, he will land somewhere; nevertheless, as a poor fit for what Atkinson is trying to do, and freed from the pressure of expectation given that he was only ever a Redrafter, perhaps let someone else take that risk.
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C - 6’11, 260lbs - 22 years old - 3 years of experience
Okafor’s career could not have gone much worse thus far. I cannot think of another player who suffered as sharp of a decline as this; 17.5 points per game as a rookie, fourth year option declined, unplayable by year three.
Notwithstanding rumours of trade-stifling injury and proven disinterest in defence and rebounding, there is no reason why Okafor could not have the same sort of career that Greg Monroe does right now. It is true to say that Monroe’s career right now involves coming off the bench in a limited role in his prime, and that with the Celtics, he was not even doing that. Yet despite his limitations, it is indisputable that Monroe is good at what he does, a highly adept mid-range-and-in scorer with touch, moves, poise and size, who is also a good passer at his position.
Okafor could be that, too. Maybe, considering that the NBA’s small ball revolution has not totally negated the role of post players but merely raised the skill level required to play as one, a skilled player like Okafor could still be an impactful player in some capacity. So why isn’t he?
Everything about his time on the court lacks rhythm, cohesion and intensity. It is not a good sign that a team that is targeting Redrafts and Reclamations could not play a 22-year-old third-year #2 pick centre in meaningless late-season games at the backup centre spot over two journeyman combo forwards in Acy and Cunningham. Defensively out of position, not ready to compete; offensively, has to slow the game to a crawl to be incorporated, particularly jarring on a high pace team. Even when given post touches, Okafor turns it over a ton, misses a lot of lay-ups and never gets to the line. The thing he is supposed to be good at, he was not that good at. So how did we get here, and where do we go from here now?
Player Plan: Entering unrestricted free agency. Cannot be offered more than $6,313,832 to re-sign, though I cannot see an inability to pay him more being a problem somehow. With so much youth still on his side, he will land somewhere; nevertheless, as a poor fit for what Atkinson is trying to do, and freed from the pressure of expectation given that he was only ever a Redrafter, perhaps let someone else take that risk.
