Talking Points of NBA Week 8

Jahlil Okafor traded to the Brooklyn Nets

jahlil okafor

The Sixers will send Okafor, guard Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick to the Nets for 30-year-old forward Trevor Booker.

The Nets got the better of this trade as they get to pair the promising big man with their recently acquired point guard D'Angelo Russell. They are both from the 2015 draft class, where Russell was picked second by the Los Angeles Lakers and Okafor went to the Sixers, who had the third pick.

If Russell and Okafor click, the future will be bright for Brooklyn.

Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie year. He's been in and out of the team's rotation since then due to injuries and other issues. The Sixers were trying to ship him off somewhere rather than letting him go for free at the season’s end after he didn't pick up his 4th year player option. Unable to reach any trade agreement and Okafor warming the bench, #FreeJah came to his aid. He received support from NBA players like Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum tweeting for him to be traded.

Nik Stauskas can be a useful player for the Brooklyn Nets, and provide the team with some valuable minutes off the bench.

Power forward Trevor Booker is averaging a career-high 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game so far this season. He is shooting 51.3% from the field.