Jahlil Okafor’s career will finally get the reset it needs

Starting over isn’t always a bad thing. You do it when your internet is down or your computer freezes, except you call it a reset. You do it when you get up and walk away from a project, only to come back refocused and energized, except you call it starting fresh. Jahlil Okafor will be starting over, and it could be the best thing to ever happen to his NBA career.

To describe Okafor is to partially describe bad timing. He’s a big man born an era too late. He’s a smooth center with graceful footwork and the ability to score anywhere around the basket. Had his draft year been 2007, or 1997, point guards across the league would line up to feed him in the post, clear out and allow him to go to work.

He was drafted by the wrong franchise and a team who didn’t unanimously want him. Then-Sixers GM Sam Hinkie wanted Kristaps Porzingis, but was shunned by Porzingis’ camp and overruled by ownership. With the third pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Sixers selected Okafor, considered one of the three top prospects in that class. Okafor was seen as a talent who could produce immediately and could be more reliable than an unknown European talent like Porzingis.

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The result was what Nerlens Noel eventually called a logjam. Three high-caliber centers were on the same roster with Joel Embiid, Okafor and Noel. Embiid was never going anywhere, and once he showed a flash of dominance and later signed his monster extension, he sealed Okafor’s spot on the trading block and eventually as a buyout candidate. Okafor’s greatest role on the team was as insurance for Embiid. Now, he has no role.

In his first season, while Embiid missed his second year due to injury, Okafor was the best prospect playing for a team who started the year 0-18. During that streak they lost to the Celtics, sending the Sixers to 0-16. After the game, Okafor got into two fights at a Boston nightclub. Not soon after the altercation, Sixers owner Josh Harris, perhaps with the help of the NBA, called Jerry Colangelo to take control of the franchise.

Ben Falk, who operates CleaningTheGlass.com, told ESPN’s Zach Lowe he was interested in what could’ve been different if Jae Crowder didn’t hit that 3-pointer and the Sixers won. Perhaps there is no fight. Perhaps that affords Hinkie more time and holds off ownership’s action to bring in Colangelo who eventually forced him out. Perhaps nothing changes. In hindsight, Okafor became the pawn facilitating the demise of The Process. His tenure in Philadelphia will be remembered as the end of Hinkie’s reign. It’s not fair to him or Hinkie, but the two of them will always be connected to Porzingis and what might’ve been.

To describe Okafor is also to partially describe limits. If Okafor could shoot 3-pointers, then he probably has a spot on this roster. His offensive ability is beyond those like Richaun Holmes and Amir Johnson — the centers in front of him on the roster. If he was able to space the floor, then he would fit better with Embiid and Ben Simmons, but he cannot. He and Embiid played only 80 minutes together, but it was more than enough for the Sixers to see it would never work. Embiid and Okafor were a minus-21.5. They gave up 1.17 points per possession, which is four points worse than the 30th ranked defense this season.

The reason for playing Holmes and Johnson over Okafor is they are willing, and able, to perform in areas Okafor is not. Both show better effort, don’t whiff on screens, crash the boards and play defense. It’s tough to justify a commitment to a player who doesn’t fit with your best player and won’t sink when that player is on the bench. But, maybe his weight loss has shown a new commitment not yet seen from him.

Theoretically, the next team to sign Okafor — considering his trade value has plummeted to rock bottom now that he may want a buyout — will want him and will want to build around him. There’s a difference between being able to play and being able to play. The first is a testament to talent, either a player is good enough or not. The second is about being given the opportunity. Okafor has never played on an NBA roster as talented as this Sixers team. He probably won’t play with as much talent for his next team, unless the Celtics come over the top.

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It’d be tough to say we don’t know how good or bad Okafor could be, but it’s not insane to think it. Teams like the Celtics have proven how important culture can be. We’ve seen how often players up their production the moment they feel a bit of confidence. Is it crazy to say Okafor hasn’t had either in his three-plus years in Philly?

The lure or repellent with Okafor will always be on offense. Some will love it and feel a guy with his level of skill could roast the new-age, limited centers who are good for rim rolls and little else. Or, you could see a player who would be the best candidate for a stat line like 10-of-20 for 20 points, 50 percent from the field, but no 3-pointers or free throws to up his efficiency.

The fact we don’t know for sure should be enough to warrant Okafor a second chance in a different city and a chance to start over.