Knicks · Out of Sight...Out of Mind- A Belated Plea From Jahlil Okafor (page 1)

My name is Jahlil, I'm the taller guy on the right in the photo. I'm not holding the NCAA trophy my team just won because I didn't want to belittle the other guy. I wished I could have faced that guy on the left in the finals, but for some reason he never showed up. Pretty impolite, if you ask me, but he comes from one of those non-academic schools, so what can you expect. As you can see, his legs are rather long for his body- a high center of gravity. I think I would have moved around him rather easily if he had tried to guard me.

I turn 20 in December, so I have a lot of growth ahead of me, physically and as a player. I've lost some weight and put on some muscle. The Duke coeds seem to like my new body, and smile at me a lot, although my friends Tyus and Winston tell me that the money I'm about to get makes me more attractive to them than my loss of weight. I prefer to believe they are wrong about this.

I love basketball, and love the basket- that round metal hoop from which a white net hangs. I like to be near the basket when I'm on offense, and I've developed moves which allow me to put the ball we bounce around into the hoop with the net on a very consistent basis when I want to do so. Unlike many, I use the plexiglass with the box painted on it in order to score. I learned about this from watching a guy named Duncan, who Coach K said is a pretty good player to emulate. I'm told that another coach who supposedly had some success in college, I think his name was Wooden, used to have his players, especially his taller players, use the backboard when taking a shot.

Some call me old school and say all big guys have to be able to shoot from beyond the 3 pt line, but according to Archimedes, the Ancient Greek philosopher from 2,200 years ago, "The shortest distance between a big man and making a basket is a good move in the post," ...or something like that. I'm not about to question that kind of wisdom.

I'm not a greedy guy, so I know how to give the ball to my teammates if they have a better chance to score, and I'm known as a good teammate. Giving is good, and I take this to heart on the court.

I hurt my leg during the year... Had to take some time off, and I might have come back too soon. I was not at my best during the last part of our season, and it hurts me when people criticize my defense and hustle... but my team and I did have the last laugh, and that is all that matters.

I've had trouble shooting from the free throw line. My parents always told me that nothing in life is free, so I wonder if I don't shoot as well from the free throw line because I feel guilty. Whatever the reason is, I am working on my outside shooting and free throws so I can help the next team I play for, but I was made for the paint, and that is where I live.

I haven't put out my workout video, and many of you seem to have forgotten me, even though I was one of the guys holding up the trophy at the end of the NCAA tournament. I like to think that showing ability on the court against an opponent is a better way to judge talent than carefully orchestrated workouts. I guess some need a workout video to show off...I will do one, but the real measure of a player is what they do on the court against a hostile opponent.

I have more to say, but have more working out to do now. Think about what I've said, and give me the respect I'm due.

Here is a video of my game. Unfortunately my computer is acting up, and I can only give you the video showing my strengths.

If you're lucky, I'll be on your team in June- If not, you'll come to fear me real soon, for Okafor is coming.

BRIGGS wrote:Oh please slip to 4.

i think he should have a close family member / girlfriend go out and say something like minnesota sucks or i can't stand kevin garnett or something like that. we're definitely getting 1 of the projected top 3 prospects then.

BRIGGS wrote:Oh please slip to 4.

I remember that you really liked OK4 during the year, and I was playing around with you to see if you would trade out of #1 (we though we could get it) for this or that player.

I still have doubts about him on D, but shouldn't he get the benefit of the doubt until he comes out with his workout vid, or we hear stories from private workouts.

What if he is visibly quicker, is a little better at the FT line, and shows he can hit a midrange J at a pretty high rate if, and when, he does a workout video?

Seems amazing to me how he is being dismissed, and the funny thing is that there are a lot of rumors out now about Saunders preferring him at #1. Smokescreen...maybe, but who knows?

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Oh please slip to 4.

I remember that you really liked OK4 during the year, and I was playing around with you to see if you would trade out of #1 (we though we could get it) for this or that player.

I still have doubts about him on D, but shouldn't he get the benefit of the doubt until he comes out with his workout vid, or we hear stories from private workouts.

What if he is visibly quicker, is a little better at the FT line, and shows he can hit a midrange J at a pretty high rate if, and when, he does a workout video?

Seems amazing to me how he is being dismissed, and the funny thing is that there are a lot of rumors out now about Saunders preferring him at #1. Smokescreen...maybe, but who knows?

Okafor is better than any NBA free agent we could possibly get.

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Oh please slip to 4.

I remember that you really liked OK4 during the year, and I was playing around with you to see if you would trade out of #1 (we though we could get it) for this or that player.

I still have doubts about him on D, but shouldn't he get the benefit of the doubt until he comes out with his workout vid, or we hear stories from private workouts.

What if he is visibly quicker, is a little better at the FT line, and shows he can hit a midrange J at a pretty high rate if, and when, he does a workout video?

Seems amazing to me how he is being dismissed, and the funny thing is that there are a lot of rumors out now about Saunders preferring him at #1. Smokescreen...maybe, but who knows?

Okafor is better than any NBA free agent we could possibly get.

Is there anything he can show you in a workout video that would change your opinion of him vs Town?

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Oh please slip to 4.

I remember that you really liked OK4 during the year, and I was playing around with you to see if you would trade out of #1 (we though we could get it) for this or that player.

I still have doubts about him on D, but shouldn't he get the benefit of the doubt until he comes out with his workout vid, or we hear stories from private workouts.

What if he is visibly quicker, is a little better at the FT line, and shows he can hit a midrange J at a pretty high rate if, and when, he does a workout video?

Seems amazing to me how he is being dismissed, and the funny thing is that there are a lot of rumors out now about Saunders preferring him at #1. Smokescreen...maybe, but who knows?

Okafor is better than any NBA free agent we could possibly get.

Just playing with your head, but how about this...

Is there anything he can show you in a workout video that would change your opinion of him vs Town?

No but that doesnt mean Okafor cant be great.

yellowboy90 wrote:

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

Included OK4's 2013 measurements because it included his height w/o shoes.

From DraftExpress

OK4

Predraft Measurements
Year	Source	       Ht. w/o Shoes	Height w/shoes	Weight	Wingspan	Standing Reach	Body Fat	No Step Vert	Max Vert
2014	Hoop Summit	NA	        6' 10.75"	272	7' 5"	        9' 2.5"	        NA	        NA	        NA
2013	USA Basketball	6' 9.5"	        6' 11"	        277	7' 6.25"	9' 3"	        NA	        NA	        NA

Predraft Measurements
Year	Source	       Height w/o Shoes	Height w/shoes	Weight	Wingspan	Standing Reach	Body Fat	No Step Vert	Max Vert
2014	UK Pro Day	6' 10.25"	6' 11.25"	250	7' 3.25"	9' 1"	        8.1	        29.0	        36.5

yellowboy90 wrote:

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

WaltLongmire wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

OK4 did show some footwork the first time, but Mudiay, for a pass first PG, sure did not look at the open wing on the right when he took that off balanced shot.

Okafor got down low and hounded Mudiay pretty good there. Okafor will be more than fine defensively if his mind set is what we saw after the season with the wight loss. Okafor was not in great shape during the season had to play big minutes had incredible responsibility was double triple teamed every game then played hurt. He isnt the 2nd coming of Ralph Sampson but see no reason why he can play good D and hit a couple of blocs per game.

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

OK4 did show some footwork the first time, but Mudiay, for a pass first PG, sure did not look at the open wing on the right when he took that off balanced shot.

Okafor got down low and hounded Mudiay pretty good there. Okafor will be more than fine defensively if his mind set is what we saw after the season with the wight loss. Okafor was not in great shape during the season had to play big minutes had incredible responsibility was double triple teamed every game then played hurt. He isnt the 2nd coming of Ralph Sampson but see no reason why he can play good D and hit a couple of blocs per game.

OK4, whatever his limitations, understands that he is most effective offensively if he is less than 15 feet (probably less) from the basket. In that way, he was like Sampson's partner, Olajuwon.

In the Towns workout video he was actually showing off jump shot range he will probably never use. He'll grow another inch...do you really want him doing crossover stuff and between the leg dribbling 25 feet from the basket? If he's on the perimeter on offense you lose his offensive rebounding. And if you have him running after stretch 4 types you lose his shot blocking, and he'll have to chase around faster guys.

Will be interesting to see what OK4 shows if he puts out a workout video.

crzymdups wrote:I'm getting the gitchy feeling about Okafor. I think the Lakers want a PG. I think the Sixers want a PG. I think Okafor might be there at 4.

WaltLongmire wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:

Potential maybe there or Mudiay is just a bum.

Also, judging height in pictures can be misleading. It would be nice if Okafor was at least a legit 6'10 w/out shoes but we'll never know until he is measured and it is announced. His measurements not being leaked does send up red flags to me. However, it has been reported that like Towns, Jahlil's growth plates are still open so maybe he had another spurt and will grow some more.

OK4 did show some footwork the first time, but Mudiay, for a pass first PG, sure did not look at the open wing on the right when he took that off balanced shot.

Okafor got down low and hounded Mudiay pretty good there. Okafor will be more than fine defensively if his mind set is what we saw after the season with the wight loss. Okafor was not in great shape during the season had to play big minutes had incredible responsibility was double triple teamed every game then played hurt. He isnt the 2nd coming of Ralph Sampson but see no reason why he can play good D and hit a couple of blocs per game.

I always though Sampson missed on becoming a truly transcendent player because he didn't concentrate on his post-up game. He had the mind of a SF.

OK4, whatever his limitations, understands that he is most effective offensively if he is less than 15 feet (probably less) from the basket. In that way, he was like Sampson's partner, Olajuwon.

In the Towns workout video he was actually showing off jump shot range he will probably never use. He'll grow another inch...do you really want him doing crossover stuff and between the leg dribbling 25 feet from the basket? If he's on the perimeter on offense you lose his offensive rebounding. And if you have him running after stretch 4 types you lose his shot blocking, and he'll have to chase around faster guys.

Will be interesting to see what OK4 shows if he puts out a workout video.

Isnt this the type of D the Stein brothers are calling for? But this was comes from a guy who knows how to pass can score withe ase and rebounds very well. Also when Wisconsin or ND thought of putting a 6-5 guy on Stein--1-1 what do you thinkj Okfor would do to him score 35 points and grab 17 rebounds?

fishmike wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I'm getting the gitchy feeling about Okafor. I think the Lakers want a PG. I think the Sixers want a PG. I think Okafor might be there at 4.

fingers crossed baby. God that would change how I feel about the Knicks very quickly

Me, too.

One thing - the league, as we know, follows trends. What's the trend right now? MVP lead guard leading his team to the Finals aka Steph Curry, leading all-star vote getter, three point shooter, can take advantage of the new rules to get to the paint, face of the "new" league... I think come draft time the Lakers and Sixers may be thinking about this. And obviously if the Sixers drafted a third big man, it'd be astounding.
Anyway, we'll see

fishmike wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I'm getting the gitchy feeling about Okafor. I think the Lakers want a PG. I think the Sixers want a PG. I think Okafor might be there at 4.

fingers crossed baby. God that would change how I feel about the Knicks very quickly

Lakers take Russell, who knows what that begins, and what Philly will do.

Porzingis is another wildcard. I like him, but if he is somehow drafted 1=3, we also benefit, and get one of the guys we never thought we had a chance to get. Minny and Philly top brass have seen him overseas, and Saunders compares him to KG (Which I don't). He works out in Las Vegas next week.

I just don't think the draft order is set in stone at this point. Team workouts have barely started- don't think any of the big names have done any yet. Not even sure that Towns is doing team workouts, if I heard correctly- wonder if that has any influence on the eventual order.

yellowboy90 wrote:If Okafor dropped my goal as a GM would be to get ibaka either in 2017 or next summer in a trade. Ibaka is only 25 yrs old and would go well with Okafor.

Agree with this mentality--everything doesnt have to come together next year.