Ten thoughts around the NBA, including some additional analysis on the Jahlil Okafor situation.
1. The more and more I think about the Jahlil Okafor situation, the more I think it’s a long shot he finds a way to Boston, particularly if this team stays healthy in the frontcourt. The Celtics simply don’t have any room for him in this rotation right now, despite his promising young talent and sitting on the bench is not going to be appealing for a 21-year-old that has been the odd man out in Philadelphia for much of the past two seasons. With Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis carrying their weight at the center spot, Okafor isn’t exactly an appealing option for Brad Stevens either given how much of a defensive downgrade he would be compared to both of those guys.
Stevens is not going to play him just to play him and if Okafor isn’t going to get minutes, why would he want to come here (if he is bought out by Philly)? The situation reminds me a little bit of the JaVale McGee situation from a couple years ago, when Danny Ainge thought the C's had the big man in a late-season deal, but no deal was reached after McGee refused to give the C's a team option in year two. There's no question that the Celtics and Stevens could rehabilitate the value of Okafor (in my mind) but two things need to happen for that to be a possibility: a) Okafor needs to play. b) The Celtics need a reason (i.e. an extra year of Okafor under contract) to give them the incentive to develop him. Without a clear solution to those problems and the Sixers reportedly holding out for some kind of a decent return in a trade, I don't see it happening.
2. The improvement of Andre Drummond at the free throw line this year (up to 77.8 percent, which is double his career average) is one of the most fascinating subplots of the season. A lot of teams have to be kicking themselves right now since the center was available as a buy-low option on the trade block last year when the Pistons were in turmoil.
3. What has gotten into the Knicks? After looking miserable in Boston following a 0-3 start, they have won four of five games with Jarrett Jack running the show at point guard in place of Ramon Sessions. Kristaps Porzingis continues to put on a show when he’s not defended by a guy named Al Horford. This sequence from Friday night has to be one of the best sequences of the year.
Everyone go home pic.twitter.com/8m4Jkax3L9
— Knicks Film School (@KnickFilmSchool) November 4, 2017