The Philadelphia 76ers have rookie sensation Jahlil Okafor. Still , in the context of “Okafor doesn’t fit”, he could be traded. Does anyone remember the Charles Barkley trade? I do. Don’t let history repeat itself, Philly.
Rookie center Jahlil Okafor is the talk of trades in the Philadelphia 76ers circles. Charles Barkley found himself in a similar situation 25 years ago.
"‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ – George Santayana"
Two bad teams. Two good players. Two players who had lots of rumors whispers and speculation about being a principal in a trade. One happened and one has yet to do so. One was a veteran of eight years, while one is a rookie. Both players played in the front court, one dominated at the power forward position, while the other is attempting to learn how to play there – having focused exclusively on center before the mid-point of his first and only year with the Philadelphia 76ers. One ended his rookie season with 14.0 points per game with 54.5% accuracy, and 8.6 rebounds per game, while the other ended his rookie season prematurely, but is scoring 17.5 points per game on 50.8% accuracy, and 7.0 rebounds per game. Two players who can deliver incredible things to the team they play for. One was traded, one is at risk of a similar fate. Both have some elements that needed refinement.
Forward Charles Barkley has always been a very outspoken individual, and can really amp it up from the moment a microphone is held up to him. He has always said what is on his mind. He played for a struggling Philadelphia 76ers team that missed the playoffs in 1992 for just the second time in seventeen season. And he let the fans, the media, and therefore, his team, know that he was not happy to be carrying the team on his shoulders. He was the size of a small forward in the NBA, listed at 6′ 6″ but his 250+ pound muscular frame was closer to 6′ 5″. But he could out-rebound much taller men.
It was that audacity that made his so dangerous on the basketball court, and also made him so dangerous off the court as well. When Barkley arrived to the Sixers, he had the opportunity to play with, and be mentored by, Sixers legend Moses Malone. Under the tutelage of Malone, Barkley was able to manage his weight and learned to prepare and condition himself properly for a game, and how to use his physicality to outplay larger guys in the post. Even in his rookie season, the team knew that he would be special, particularly in the company of Malone, Julius Erving, and Maurice Cheeks.
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Center Jahlil Okafor has never been an outspoken person, but has also shown a quiet dominance when he steps onto the basketball court. Despite joining a team of no true stars, Okafor became the teams top scorer on day one by scoring 26 points and pulling in 7 rebounds on opening night against the perennial nemesis, the Boston Celtics in TD Garden. For the remainder of the season, he was held to fewer than 10 points only four times. He is a throwback to the centers of old, showing a physicality and willingness to work the post hard to get a shot he likes. Despite being one of the lone offensive weapons, Okafor continued to score, only being held in check when injury forced him to sit out.
But in Okafor’s case, the voice that is likely being heard is the rising volume from the masses, particularly Sixers fans, who have patiently awaited the team to show any signs of improvement this season. Finding none, they want visible signs of effort from the front office – starting with trading Okafor to make room and opportunity for returning to health center Joel Embiid and rim protecting defensive standout Nerlens Noel. In his rookie season, Jahlil Okafor has accomplished what few others have in their first season in the NBA. But the rumors of his trade have become part of the background whispers from the moment he was drafted to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.
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