Philadelphia 76ers: Finding a Role for Jahlil Okafor

Amidst the rumors of Joel Embiid‘s return and Dario Saric‘s arrival, Jahlil Okafor remains a Philadelphia 76ers player with tremendous overlooked potential.

Ever since they were paired together following Joel Embiid’s second season on the sidelines, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel have stirred up quite the debate in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 76ers are not playing in the NBA Finals, but this debate within the community is about as heated as every old timer claiming his squad would roast Steph Curry and the Warriors.

With Embiid soon to return like John Snow, and the potential to add Dario Saric and Ben Simmons, there does not appear to be room for both of the established big men.

This has created a divide that you’re either #TeamNerlens or #TeamJah. Noel’s athleticism and defense make him extremely valuable in today’s NBA, but he’s due for a massive pay day next summer. With Embiid potentially the long-term answer at center, that’s a lot of money to commit to a potential backup or unnecessary player.

On the other hand, Okafor lacks all of the defensive prowess that Noel has. He also digressed as a passer from his time at Duke and given how dominant the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors have been with small lineups, he does not fit the modern NBA like Noel. However, he averaged 17.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds, while showing off some of the most dominant post moves we’ve seen from any teenager in the NBA — like better than young Tim Duncan post moves.

With those assessments in mind, this is a much more difficult decision than many think. Even still, it is pretty obvious that the 76ers cannot keep both Noel and Okafor. It may seem more appealing to pay Noel, given he fits the modern NBA, but it’s a bit of a myth that there’s no role for Okafor in this NBA. If there is apparently no role for him, why was it Okafor and not Noel who was chosen for the USA Select Team?

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That selection feeds more into the narrative that Okafor is somehow still underrated. He’s three years younger than Noel, under team control for three more seasons on a cheap contract, and arguably has more upside. The pro-Noel crowd won’t point out that Nerlens digressed this past season in most areas, though he also has yet to play with a true point guard and battled injuries.

Still, should the Sixers shop Noel or simply find a better deal for him, Okafor remains a valuable piece. Unless a monster offer comes for Okafor, if Noel is traded, Philly needs some Embiid insurance. Jah is still someone who can contribute as a part of this team’s core going forward.

A case in point for a role for Okafor in the modern NBA is Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter. Okafor haters will point to how useless Kanter was for the most part against the Warriors, but let’s add two important disclaimers to that. First of all, Kanter was a big reason the Thunder even got to play the Warriors. His big series against the Spurs, ousting Tim Duncan and any Spurs bigs, was crucial in OKC’s series win. Very good teams have players for all types of series.

Secondly, Kanter was very productive in small doses and made some really nice defensive plays when he wasn’t caught on Curry, who just so happens to be the league’s best player. Even if Okafor has to be used sparingly, that doesn’t mean he cannot impact games. He’s already shown an improved shooting touch, something Kanter has, and he’s only 20 years old.

That’s the biggest thing with Okafor. We can project all we want, but there’s no telling what kind of player he will become. That’s especially true once Ben Simmons and an above average point guard are setting up the big men on the Sixers. In fact, Roy Hibbert and many other big men never started out as elite defenders or rim protectors. In early February, Okafor was already improving on that end as he blocked 12 shots in a six game span.

In the Sixers best case scenario its front court of the future is Simmons and Embiid. So, whether it’s Noel or Okafor, they’d have to come off the bench. And great teams need backups, case in point with Kanter and the Thunder. There will even be some extra minutes next year since Embiid and Simmons will not be able to handle an abundance of minutes and responsibility yet. Okafor can already create for himself, so he’d be a great 6th man candidate who could come in for 25-30 minutes and simply get buckets. #LetJahEat.

Next: Dario Saric's NBA Potential

Down the line, the 76ers may decide if this is the the only role they can offer Okafor, they would be better off maximizing him via a trade. But for now, with so many uncertainties in the front court, it seems careless to trade Noel and Okafor. If Okafor is the one who stays he can be put to great use. With three years left on his deal he allows the team more time to figure things out. It would also grant him a chance to improve his weaknesses, given he’s surely fully aware of them. Okafor had some monster games as a rookie and he might be a better player to gamble, if the Sixers find a role for him.