Yes, yes I know we have been asked this question for what seems like a century, but I must ask it again — is it finally time to trade for Jahlil Okafor.
If we’re all being honest, he was never a good fit in Philadelphia. When he was drafted, it just felt odd. Why did the Sixers draft another big man when they already had Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
Simple, he was an insurance policy.
Okafor joined the team as a backup plan just in case Embiid didn’t workout. At the time, Embiid had not played for the team due to a multitude of injuries. However, the organization knew they had something special in the big man.
Now, with Embiid playing at such a high level and a number of other bigs on the Sixers roster,
Okafor is out of place. His game just doesn’t mesh with the team’s playing style and as a result, he’s out of the team’s rotation.
As it becomes more apparent Okafor does not have a role with the Sixers, the two sides have agreed to work together to find a trade partner. Unfortunately, ESPN’s Chris Haynes has reported that there has been no front-runners thus far for the big man. This has me wondering if the Boston Celtics should take a shot at the former Duke star.
First off, forget what you know about Okafor during his time with the 76ers. I mean, sure there were some good moments his rookie year. He averaged 17.5 points per game, while shooting an impressive 50% from the field — but ever since then it’s been a downward trend. He’s seen both his minutes and stats slowly and systematically decrease each year. Still, I think there’s a chance he could find a home in Boston.
To me, the circumstances have never seemed to make more sense. For starters, Okafor’s trade value has never been lower. When you couple his well-known desire to leave Philly with his limited track record, it’s not crazy to think he can be acquired for a few second-round picks.
The other reason it seems like the perfect time is due to the disabled player exception the Celtics received for Gordon Hayward. If the Sixers are fully committed to trading Okafor, they could waive his 4th year option making him a free agent following the season. This would then allow the C’s to use the exception on him. To make things even more appealing, the Celtics would not even have to give up a player considering they still have an open roster spot.
Now, I know the knocks on Okafor surrounding his defense and frankly, they are fair. However, after watching Kyrie Irving‘s latest improvements on the defensive side of the ball, I believe Brad Stevens can help him improve. Last season, Irving gave little to no effort on defense, now he’s playing at a respectable level. Just check out the clip below.
If Stevens can improve Okafor’s defensive abilities, there becomes much less of a risk in acquiring him.
Don’t forget, just 3 years ago Okafor was touted as the next big thing. It was even rumored that Danny Ainge offered a large amount of assets in an effort to acquire the big man on draft night. While Okafor’s skills have not totally translated to the NBA yet, he’s only 21 and has more than enough time to realize his potential. Under Stevens’ tutelage I firmly believe Okafor would become a solid player for the Celtics.
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Once you factor in all of these things, I believe the Celtics should consider acquiring Jahlil Okafor.
What do you think? Should the Celtics try and acquire Okafor or not?
Comment below and let me know what you think!