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Five teams who should be interested in Jahlil Okafor

By Connor Learn

Feb 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks the ball during game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Okafor scores a career high 31 points. The Mavericks defeat the 76ers 129-103. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks the ball during game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Okafor scores a career high 31 points. The Mavericks defeat the 76ers 129-103. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the 76ers 121-114. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the 76ers 121-114. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

3. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are at a crossroads. General manager Dell Demps hasn’t been successful building alongside Anthony Davis thus far. Demps has been around since they were since 2010, and guided the franchise through the end of Chris Paul’s tenure and selected Davis. He elected to bring in Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson to fill in next to their rising star, and it hasn’t worked out great. The Pelicans are out of the Western Conference playoff picture despite another All-Star season from Davis and are facing pending free agency from Holiday and Evans.

Pelicans owner Tom Benson didn’t hire Dell Demps; after another losing season he may bring in his own man to run the team. Anthony Davis is under contract in New Orleans through 2021 and will leave if they don’t build a winner around him. Demps brought in Soloman Hill for big money and drafted Buddy Hield last summer, so they will be pieces to pair with Davis. The fact that Demps is willing to part ways with a first round pick to acquire Okafor suggests that he knows that he needs to make a building move now in order to keep his job.

Some fans may argue against bringing in Okafor and pairing him with Davis, but the truth is that Davis has started next to a true center for most of his career. He is following examples set by skilled bigs like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett through Karl-Anthony Towns and Boogie Cousins: start next to a big who will bruise and focus on scoring. Davis should play power forward long term and is versatile enough to excel alongside Jahlil Okafor. Dell Demps may make this move in hopes that its success allows him to keep his job.

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