Having been a fan of Kene Okafor for many years now, I am very excited about his latest venture. After all, he is a player that has a history of playing great basketball, as well as being one of the best young players in the NBA. Hopefully, his new team will give him the opportunity to show his full potential.
The Sixers could still have taken Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis could have changed the trajectory of the 2015-16 season for the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only would he have benefited the Sixers, but he would have provided Joel Embiid with more floor space down low.
Porzingis was a player many believed to be a wild card, a risky pick, or a “non-conventional” player. He had an athletic mix, a strong jump shot, and a silky midrange jumper. In addition, he was able to score at least 20 points four times in five games.
But Hinkie wasn’t willing to take a chance on Porzingis, and the Sixers took Jahlil Okafor instead. Though Okafor has been a good player, he lacked court awareness, athleticism, and drive.
It’s easy to argue that the Sixers were wrong for taking Okafor. They should have drafted a more proven big man. Instead, they gambled on a player who appeared to be years away from contributing. The result was a disastrous fit howitstart.
On the other hand, Porzingis would have positioned the 76ers for Ben Simmons’ sweepstakes. A bigger, more athletic, and versatile big man with space down low could have improved the team’s chances.
However, it’s possible that the 76ers would have preferred to have another European player, like D’Angelo Russell or Karl-Anthony Towns. If they were interested, however, they would have had to give up more than a third overall pick.
The Sixers don’t want to add any salary to get Kene Okafor off the books
The Philadelphia 76ers have decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on Jahlil Okafor’s contract. This is a decision that will allow the 76ers to keep cap room for future free agents.
Okafor is scheduled to make just under $5 million this season, with a second year option for another $5 million. He’s played in just two games this spicecinemas season.
His value has taken a huge hit since entering the league. Not only is he an under-achiever, but he’s also not a good fit for the Sixers.
If he’s traded, the Philadelphia 76ers would need to include other players in the deal. Their frontcourt is already a disaster. There isn’t much depth there, and it’s not a position where they can go out and find an offensive specialist to play low block.
The 76ers have been in trade talks with teams about a potential sign-and-trade deal for Okafor. However, he hasn’t generated any interest in the open market.
As of now, the Philadelphia 76ers haven’t made any significant offers in the trade market for Okafor. They are in the process of vetting all their trade options. Ideally, they’ll wait until a deal comes together and he is free to sign with a new team.
Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are likely destinations for Okafor
The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are likely destinations for Jahlil Okafor’s next big move. But who is in the mix?
In case you haven’t heard, the Bulls have a new coach and an interesting frontcourt. The new coach, Fred Hoiberg, is a former point guard who is trying to loosen up the spacing and get the ball moving. With this newfound freedom, Hoiberg may be able to take advantage of the spacing that is already in place.
But the most important thing about the Bulls’ frontcourt is that they have young, talented players who can make an impact. Coby White is settling in as a starter and Nikola Vucevic is having a good season.
The Bulls also have Enes Kanter, a talented young frontcourt player who can help on the defensive end. Joakim Noah could also fill a role as a bench player.
While the Bulls are rebuilding, they are still a competitive team. They have a lot of depth, and the team has a solid supporting cast that can withstand injury.
So while the Bulls aren’t likely to trade Jahlil Okafor, they aren’t likely to let him walk either. He’s under contract for the rest of the season and has been healthy scratch for most of the first nine games of the year. That means the 76ers will have to pay him if they wish to trade him.
