By Justin Batiste
The Nets are headed in the right direction after the acquisition of Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas.
Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor is finally a free man! Yesterday the 76ers made the decision to send Okafor, Nik Stauskas and a second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for power forward Trevor Booker. It’s obvious who won this trade–the Nets.
Although the 76ers received a starting power forward in Booker, the Nets received another shooter in Stauskas, a big man they can run their offense through in Okafor and another pick in next year’s draft.
This is great for Okafor.
If anyone has been watching basketball, then you should be aware of what’s been going with him and the 76ers. The Sixers have basically been holding Okafor back. Joel Embiid is a great big man, but for Philadelphia not to play Okafor at all, that just wasn’t right.
So now Okafor will get a chance to resurrect his career in Brooklyn with another good young player and point guard, .
This was probably the best place for Okafor to go right now in his career. There’s not too much pressure on him because the Nets are so irrelevant in the NBA right now, and because they’re still rebuilding so he’ll have time to find his rhythm.
Okafor’s career averages are 14.6 PPG, 5.9 TRG, and 1.2 APG but he’s better than what his stats show.
Jahlil Okafor hasn’t played all year and was out of the 76ers rotation last season. Kenny Atkinson is going to put him in a position to play like he did his rookie year. Nets fans should be happy.
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed)
Okafor brings another scoring option to this Brooklyn Nets team. He’s a highly skilled big man who can score inside and out, and he’ll make the right play on the offensive end.
Now that the Nets have Okafor at center, this allows them to slow it down on offense because now they have a post game, something they’re lacking right now.
Next, the Nets should go out and get a power forward who compliments Okafor’s play. A power forward who hustles, rebounds and plays defense–Okafor is a decent rebounder but his defense is something he can improve on.
Okafor may not make an impact right away, because he hasn’t played all season, but eventually he’ll find his game.
The Nets now have a point guard, effective perimeter players and an inside presence.
First, they go out and get Russell, then Allen Crabbe and now Okafor and Stauskas. These are good moves on Brooklyn’s part, and a good situation for Okafor. The Nets are still far from making the playoffs, however, they’re heading in the right direction.
