Jahlil Okafor is finally free from the jail cell that was the Philadelphia 76ers bench after the team traded him along with Nik Stauskas and a second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Trevor Booker on Thursday.
Despite being by far the most talented center on the Nets roster, the Chicago native will have to earn his minutes on the floor under coach Kenny Atkinson and general manager Sean Marks, who pulled the trigger on the swap, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
Okafor will have to get in game shape, first and foremost — as he's only played a total of 25 minutes this entire NBA season. While the big man has undergone a new diet and physical conditioning program in the summer, his body will need to get re-acquainted with the rigors of playing an NBA game.
The Nets brass is confident that Atkinson and his coaching staff can get the 21-year-old big man to reach his untapped potential.
“I'm banking on Kenny and his staff,” said Marks.
Okafor has everything he wanted to have in Philadelphia with his new team — a trusting coaching staff, a spot to fill in the rotation, and most importantly — an opportunity to show what he can do on the floor.
The big man averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his rookie season — if he can come anywhere near those totals, this trade would be a massive win for the Nets.
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