Reason I: He validated the Philadelphia 76ers “Trust The Process”.
Before his selection, the draft results of the Philadelphia 76ers looked more akin to the admission desk of a physical rehab clinic. It was a pattern of dealing for players who were… delayed in their healthy appearance on the roster. Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric were all delayed for one reason or another.
Until the Philadelphia 76ers selected Jahlil Okafor with the third pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, NBA fans and pundits pointed to Sam Hinkie’s “delayed gratification” as an unabashed attempt to blatantly tank the team.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
2015 Insurance Policy
In reality, the team’s strategy was to maximize the value of each pick. However, it was not until the team had the opportunity to select Okafor that the value of his play was the obvious choice.
Obvious, because the team had just witnessed both Karl Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell come off the board.
Yes, some felt that Kristaps Porzingis was a better choice in hindsight. But the reactions to Porzingis on draft night was anything but positive. Meanwhile, the team had already learned that Joel Embiid would not be healthy enough to suit up. Porzingis was not a “stand-in” for Joel Embiid. Jahlil Okafor was.
Okafor arrived as an insurance policy. Nerlens Noel, as strong as he can play defensively, will never lead the team’s offense. In the grand scheme of things, the Philadelphia 76ers planned to play Okafor and optimize his value. When Joel Embiid returned to health, the team could simply trade a high-scoring center to a playoff bound team that needed front-court help. Jahlil Okafor proved that the process could self-correct.