Top 10 Philadelphia 76ers Players Heading Into 2016-17

4. C Jahlil Okafor

If we were analyzing Okafor’s skills in a vacuum or placing him onto a team 10 years ago, this ranking likely would be a tad bit higher. As one of the most polished post scorers to come out of the college ranks in recent memory, Okafor has the offensive talent alone to sustain a prominent role in the NBA for years to come– he just doesn’t mesh well with the current state of NBA basketball.

With the league becoming increasingly dependent on spacing and positional flexibility, it’s tough to fit a post-oriented big like Okafor into a rotation without the absolute right pieces around him. Okafor is a substantial defensive liability on a nightly basis, and can clog up the offense when not surrounded by proper spacing.

Okafor’s lack of mobility on the defensive end and is abysmal rebounding is what really hampers his ability to make an all-around positive impact at times. While he’s able to put up 20 points with ease on some nights, his inability to utilize his bulky frame to any sort of advantage on the other side is a weakness that is too easily exploited. He’s beat off the dribble when taken outside the paint, and lacks the awareness to be effective guarding underneath the basket at a high level or when switching off of pick-and-rolls.

He’s also a subpar defensive rebounder for somebody of his stature.

However, despite the seemingly extensive list of negatives considering Okafor’s most pressing issues, he’s still an incredible young talent in a vacuum. His arsenal of moves on the low block is more developed than many players 8 years older than him, and his ability to score the ball from almost any angle around the rim is entertaining to watch when he’s allowed to go to work.

Okafor can flat out score the ball, and that’ll forgive a good number of his proverbial sins as his NBA career progresses, whether in Philadelphia or elsewhere. He’ll need to improve his defense no matter what, but his offensive production will never be a question, and he has more than earned a top 4 ranking here.

Next: 3. Noel