Veteran center Jahlil Okafor has been cut for the second time this offseason, as the Hawks announced in a press release on Monday that they’ve requested waivers on the big man. Atlanta now has 19 players under contract.
A former third overall pick, Okafor spent last season in Detroit, averaging 5.4 PPG and 2.4 RPG in a very limited role (12.9 MPG) across 27 games. The big man has also spent time with the Sixers, Nets, and Pelicans since entering the NBA out of Duke in 2015. He was traded from Detroit to Brooklyn in September and was subsequently waived by the Nets before catching on with Atlanta for training camp.
Okafor was on a non-guaranteed contract with the Hawks, so he was never a great bet to make the team’s regular season roster. However, Atlanta only has 14 players with fully guaranteed contracts, so someone with a non-guaranteed deal could still make the 15-man squad. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and DaQuan Jeffries are among those in the mix.
Okafor, meanwhile, will be looking for another opportunity if and when he clears waivers on Wednesday.
Another sixers “process” guy. Struggling to stay in the league
That has more to do with the league than Okafor. His skill set doesn’t fit anymore. A guy like Greg Monroe went from a solid starter to out of the league, and a guy like Drummond is now a backup. Bigs have to be able to switch on D and/or jack up threes.
Right, there’s no room left in the NBA for old-school 4’s and 5’s.
You see it all the time now with a PF/C who can’t shoot threes or guard smaller players, big guys have to be more athletic these days.
Big guys can still have an old school offensive post game but if that they HAVE to be able to play above average switching defense, or they can play meh defense but then HAVE to be able to spread the floor and drill a 3, Okafor is just old school on both ends of the court, he’s gotta go overseas I think
In other words, Bigs have to be able to do more now than just be big.
Can’t blame the Sixers for this one. This is more a case of another overrated Duke Blue Devil that was able to use Coach K’s system to hide his flaws. Every college has its busts, but Duke seems to have a lot more top 5 disappointments than top 5 successes.
It was either KP who wouldn’t go to Philly or Mudiay. All 3 have had their issues. KP obviously has the most talent, but can’t stay on the floor.
Imagine this guy tryna guard jokic
Maybe the Sixers could bring him back
He can score, although I doubt he would want to come back, still though I was always a fan
I hear the Big3 is looking for talent
I wouldn’t mind the Bulls trying him out right now to backup Vucevic and rotate with Bradley. They desperately need some size and inside scoring off their bench, and those are two things Okafor can provide…
I was thinking the same, it might be a bit late to try him out and not sure he’s even worth a veteran minimum contract but I wouldn’t mind having as an insurance big behind Vooch, Bradley and Alize. And he’s from Chicago, so he should sell a few jerseys.
I mean Kaminsky was in a similar situation last year getting cut by the Kings late and finding a decent role with the Western Champion Suns.
Frank & Jhalil are pretty much opposite players at that position tho, and Frank can shoot a little and is more mobile which makes him way more useful
Okafor does not have passion for ball. Old school is the best way to fit in with shooters. Reb and inside and outside them. Shooters best friend is a scorer down low. Some guys just do t want to be ballers. But where are they going to get this money. Too bad ….. bye