Former Duke standout Jahlil Okafor has signed a one year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. The deal will include a partial guarantee for this season and a team option for 2019-2020.
Former No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor has agreed to a deal with the Pelicans, according to @wojespn pic.twitter.com/z0Ai7YcFqD
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) August 8, 2018
Okafor was a highly sought after prospect coming out of high school and college. Ranked the #1 recruit in the 2014 class, Okafor committed to Duke where he averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game before declaring for the NBA Draft in his freshman year.
He was selected third overall in the 2015 Draft by the 76ers and had a successful rookie season. Posting 17.5 points and seven rebounds in his first year, he was recognized for his play by being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
His career had looked promising, but he quickly fell over the ledge. His playing time diminished the next year before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a package deal for Trevor Booker. The change of scenery only made matters worse, as his stat line suffered in the new environment. He averaged 6.4 points and less than three rebounds per game in just over 12 minutes a game, losing whatever value he had left. The struggles he endured weren’t limited to the offensive end as Okafor finished 70th of 79 qualifying centers in Defensive Real Plus-Minus.
Now, in the wake of Demarcus Cousins departure, the Pelicans have taken a chance on the former NCAA champion to fill their need for an active big man presence alongside 5-time All-Star Anthony Davis.
New Orleans is one of a few teams that still have open roster spots available. The Pelicans have 12 guaranteed contracts with veteran Emeka Okafor on a non-guaranteed salary and wing DeAndre Liggins on a partial. Good opportunity for Jahlil Okafor to make the roster.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 8, 2018
This may be Okafor’s last chance to crack the rotation of an NBA team before he is forced to look elsewhere for work due to a lack of productivity, and he understands that.
“As a player, I recognized some key areas in my game that needed work,” said Okafor. “One, I’ve gotta improve on defense—improve both my physical quickness and my mental discipline. Two, I have to rebound better—maintain smarter positioning, be more aggressive on the jump. And three, I want to be the type of player who makes his teammates better—whether that’s by gaining confidence as a passer, or getting more comfortable spacing the floor, or even just being a supportive guy in the huddle. I’ve been working hard, and I’ll continue to work hard, to make those things happen.”
Jahlil Okafor posted this video on Instagram. He looks in shape and has been working on his game. pic.twitter.com/08woSr6Sth
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) July 14, 2018
He is a low risk, high reward option for the Pelicans, hoping that Okafor will provide solid depth for the team in addition to possibly reaching the ceiling that NBA scouts used to think was unbelievably high.
Featured Image Via Flickr/The Wing