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Cleveland Cavaliers: Five valuable free agents still available

By Tony Pesta

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 16: Jahlil Okafor #4 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 16: Jahlil Okafor #4 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor has one of the strangest stories in the NBA. Okafor was selected with the third pick in the 2015 Draft. Chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers, Okafor never really fit with his team.

The 76ers were fresh off of acquiring not only one but two centers in the lottery in the past two years. This caused problems straight from the start.

Despite this, Okafor actually had a successful first season. Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game his rookie year. This was enough to get Okafor named to the 2015-16 All-Rookie first team.

However, the next season saw Joel Embiid make his 76ers debut. After being injured through the first two years of his career, Embiid was back to take his spot as the starting center.

This pushed Okafor to the bench where he fought for minutes. While Embiid certainly deserved the starting role, this clearly bothered Okafor. His minutes declined and so did his production.

By the next season, Okafor’s minutes per game had plummeted 18 minutes lower than in his rookie year.

Okafor was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Okafor played just 26 games and averaged only 6.4 points per game. His time with Brooklyn has been just as dysfunctional as his stint in Philadelphia.

Okafor’s problems aren’t necessarily all his fault. In Philadelphia, he was overshadowed by the greatness of his peers (Joel Embiid) and the mistakes of his franchise (Drafting multiple centers).

In Brooklyn, he’s been given a tight leash and unable to gain rhythm.

Perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers could provide him with the space he needs to shine. The Cavaliers have a much more cohesive locker room than the Nets and their veteran mentors could be enough to motivate Okafor to get his career on track.