Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:37 am Post subject: Jahlil Okafor, Josh Jackson ranked among biggest busts of 2010s apart from Bennett
Quote:
Had Jahlil Okafor been drafted with the third overall pick in 2005 instead of 2015, he wouldn't be on this list of busts. Instead, he stands out as the near-perfect example of the evolving NBA.
Okafor came into the league from Duke as an elite, traditional center. He has great hands and a strong inside/around-the-basket game. While he's not quite a 7-footer, at worst, he should have had an Al Jefferson-like career.
Instead, Okafor didn't last with the Philadelphia 76ers despite averaging 17.5 points per game as a rookie. He's spent the past couple of seasons on minimum contracts with the New Orleans Pelicans. What's missing from his game, which has become a near-requirement in the modern NBA, is an outside shot.
He doesn't have the true size of Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic. He doesn't have anything close to Jokic's passing game. He also doesn't offer much defensively. He's not versatile enough to guard multiple positions, so switching onto guards is a problem. As a rookie, he blocked 1.2 shots per game, but that's a career high he hasn't touched since.
The NBA has evolved over the past decade, going away from traditional big men. A few outliers remain, but Okafor just isn't at the same level.
His selection at No. 3 makes it worse considering Embiid was picked at the same number a year earlier (also by Philadelphia). Gobert was a steal at No. 27 in 2013 (by the Utah Jazz via a draft-day trade), as was Jokic at No. 41 in 2014 (by the Denver Nuggets).
The center out of Duke was deserving of becoming a high-priority pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, landing in Philly with the 76ers didn't work out well for the former Blue Devil. The Sixers had eyes on point guard, D'Angelo Russell, that year, but the Los Angeles Lakers made him the second-overall pick.
At that point, former 76ers General Manager Sam Hinkie wanted to go with a big man, and he had two logical options. The first was Dallas Mavericks' big man, Kristaps Porzingis. In hindsight, he probably would've been better for the 76ers, but Porzingis and his representatives did everything they could to scare the Sixers off.
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 3:28 pm Post subject:
I still have no idea what the Cavs were thinking with the Bennett pick. Imagine if they had drafted Giannis or even Oladipo to go along with the big three. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
I do not think you can call a guy that went 3rd in the draft who averaged 17 points a game, on high FG% shooting a bust.
A disappointment, yes. Bust, no. He has been in the league 5 years now. I do not think he was a bust. Had he been drafted 15 years ago, he would have been a top 3 option on a team for many years.
Bennet, is a bust. Did not even make it in the league, nor could stay in the league and earn PT any season.
I do not think you can call a guy that went 3rd in the draft who averaged 17 points a game, on high FG% shooting a bust.
A disappointment, yes. Bust, no. He has been in the league 5 years now. I do not think he was a bust. Had he been drafted 15 years ago, he would have been a top 3 option on a team for many years.
Bennet, is a bust. Did not even make it in the league, nor could stay in the league and earn PT any season.
Can't play D and can't stretch the floor. There's a reason he's only playing 15 minutes per game in a non-playoff team. Even if he was drafted 15 years ago, a big that can't protect the rim is a huge liability. Not to mention attitude issues which is why he hasn't come close to making the most out of his potential. I don't see Okafor even having a Kanter type career as a bench scoring option given Kanter was easily getting 20+ minutes for the most of his career. Okafor could be in danger of being out of the league soon with these kind of impact. He's a UFA right now coming off a cheap contract with NO. Let's see if he gets another chance in NBA.
Quote:
Okafor's offensive rating this season was 105.7. His defensive rating was 115.7, indicating the Pelicans gave up more than 10 additional points per game when he was on the floor.
I do not think you can call a guy that went 3rd in the draft who averaged 17 points a game, on high FG% shooting a bust.
A disappointment, yes. Bust, no. He has been in the league 5 years now. I do not think he was a bust. Had he been drafted 15 years ago, he would have been a top 3 option on a team for many years.
Bennet, is a bust. Did not even make it in the league, nor could stay in the league and earn PT any season.
I agree, the game simply evolved away from the Eddie Curry-esque big men. Okafor can still make a living in this league. It's unfair to compare him to Embiid, different quality draft, different available options.
I do not think you can call a guy that went 3rd in the draft who averaged 17 points a game, on high FG% shooting a bust.
That was only his rookie season. He scored 17 ppg because he got a lot of shots on a 10-win team.
In the four years since, he has averaged about 7 ppg.
Definitely a bust for a #3 pick.
True. He averaged 17 only because the offense ran through him in one of the worst NBA teams in history created to tank by Hinkie. Someone had to score in that team. _________________ Showtime 2.0
Lonzo didn't live up to expectations, but he's not a bust.
Lot worst #2 picks than him: Hasheem Thabeet, Michael Beasley, Darko Milicic, Jay Williams, Stromile Swift, Danny Ferry.
Floor for Lonzo is a Rubio-esque career which is far from a bust. That'd ensure several years in the league. And if he shoots 3 pt like pre-bubble, he could be a pretty good two way PG. DLo and Ingram had breakout seasons in their 4th year as one and done college stars so I am hoping ZO has an efficient 4th season too. _________________ Showtime 2.0
Not fair to Jah. He put up impressive numbers as a rook (17/7) and then injuries derailed him. He'll still put up great numbers in a limited role (6th man).
And he got signed again on a 2 year deal by a NBA team, probably gonna go 7 years into the league after this deal. He is not a bust, not when you have been able to put up the number he did. He is a casualty of the times, even someone like Al Jefferson would have been similar to him, had he been in this era. And I think Jah is trying to adjust his game by developing an outside shot and still has a shot at being a consistent rotation guy on a team.
Busts to me are guys that can not even stick in the league aka Bennett or guys that can really show nothing, Jah showed he is more than capable to be a scorer in the NBA. Even someone like Enes Kanter, has bounced around so much the last few years. And Enes is more physical and active on D.
Okafor plays for Zhejiang Lions in China now. Checked his Wiki and they have following in introduction section.
"Okafor is often considered one of the biggest NBA "draft busts" of the 2010s"
He was too lazy to improve his shooting range, had poor motor, average athleticism making him a defensive liability with very limited offensive game.
Mitch passed on him when "next Tim Duncan" hype was going on after he won NCAA with Duke. He also drafted LaMelo for Hornets when there were many doubters. I think Booker goes #1 in 2015 re-draft (originally went #13), Towns #2 and DLo #3. Given Mitch also drafted Randle at 7th and Ingram at #2, overall solid drafting record considering a significant number of top 10 picks have been busts in those draft class. _________________ Showtime 2.0
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