The Nets‘ acquisition of Jahlil Okafor signaled a change of scenery for a talented yet displaced player. With 24 games left in the season, however, the Nets seem to be wasting their opportunity to audition Okafor as a potential long-term commodity, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
Since being traded to Brooklyn, Okafor has appeared in 22 games while averaging 6.2 PPG and 3.0 PPG. Okafor’s playing time has been inconsistent, which makes it difficult to assess both his value and interest in retaining him beyond this season.
“Getting on the floor is very important,” Okafor said. “As a basketball player we all want to be on the court. My minutes have been fluctuating up and down, but the coaches say it’s nothing on my end.”
Head coach Kenny Atkinson noted that the team feels comfortable with 19-year-old Jarrett Allen playing at power forward with Okafor at center. As it stands, the team will have a decision to make in terms of Okafor’s playing time and future.
Check out other notes from the Atlantic Division:
- Nets shooting guard Allen Crabbe has been on a tear, averaging 25.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG over the team’s last four games. It has taken a while but Crabbe is finally playing and scoring the way the Nets hoped he would, Brian Lewis of the New York Post relays.
- Dwane Casey is headed to Los Angeles to coach Team LeBron this weekend, but his proudest accomplishment is entering the break with the Raptors wielding the best record in the Eastern Conference. Despite the improvements the franchise has enjoyed under Casey, there always seems to be a perception that the Raptors head coach is on the hot seat, Chris Mannix of Yahoo! Sports writes.
- After a rough stretch in which they’ve lost nine of their last 15 games, the Celtics may explore changing their lineup after the All-Star break, Chris Forsberg of ESPN writes.
Sixers and now the Nets have figured out how to muck up a 17 and 8 PF/C.
Calling him a 17/8 center is like calling McW a 17-6-6 pg, or Tony Wroten a 20ppg sg….just because he did it on a tanking team,dont mean he can actually do it when a team is trying to win. The guy puts up 10 pts, but the team is negative 15+ when he does.
Celtics are hurting without Marcus Smart… Tatum and Brown havent done all that well lately either. Rozier really turning it on though
I agree. You would think Rozier’s stellar play would make Smart seem expensive but they do miss his grit so Ainge may have to figure out how to keep them both moving forward.
Also, I do think Tatum is hitting the rookie wall and it’s not his injured pink figure as some have said that is causing his poor shooting because he still can hit shots inside the 3 pt arc after an up-fake which shows that his legs just may be taxed.
Also I really expected more consistency of Brown both shooting and on the defensive end in his second year.
I agree. You would think Rozier’s stellar play and Smart’s bonehead move would make Smart expendable but the Celts really miss his grit and I think Ainge will have to fig out how to keep them both moving forward.
Smart showing his value on this team. Lockdown defender.
It’s not smart that is the difference. Yes he is a good player, but any team that has six rookies on their roster, and two starters with less than two years of playing time and lost their best wing player is going to be in the same position that the c’s are in. Love smart and what he does but the team was slipping way before smart went down.
I always have like Smart. Dudes a tough hard nosed defender. Adds alittle edge to that team. But, I don’t think Stevens will freak out. He’s too good of a coach to do that. The depth on the wing and the bigs r hurting them.
Heyward would of cured that ill. With him, Tatum and brown. And smart Rozier and Irving. That’s pretty good depth. But losing Heyward and now smart out cuts into the depth a lot.
With no real established pieces behind Horford they really needed the Monroe signing. So he helps add a significant piece. But behind those 2 there’s not many established players
I feel like it’s the Nets’ strategy to not play Okafor much so they can resign him on a long term deal.
Okafor is buns, can’t rebound or defend. There is no way you choose Okafor over Allen.
Not wasting an opportunity. He was never some big asset (what did they give up, nothing). Plus, the Nets don’t control him next year (UFA), and are the only team in the league that is capped in what they can pay him. I think the plan was always to get him familiar with the system and get something of a look, but not hold back Allen or otherwise expose him to the point of pushing his value above the 6 or so million they can pay him.