Jahlil Okafor: Timberwolves 2015 NBA Draft Profile

Feb 25, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) looks to pass while being defended by Virginia Tech Hokies forward Christian Beyer (22) and guard Adam Smith (3) in the first half at Cassell Coliseum. Duke defeated Virginia Tech 91-86 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Michael Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths:

In all seriousness, Okafor’s offense as a whole is a strength. He’s clearly the best offensive big man in this draft, and probably the best offensive big man in a few years. He has the ability to score in a vast variety of ways from the post, whether it’s starting with his back to the basket or in face-up position. Additionally, Okafor has shown the ability to knock down the mid-range jump shot with some consistency.

As mentioned above with the embedded tweet from KFAN Radio Station in Minneapolis, Saunders is enamored with Okafor’s footwork. For a man that’s nearly 7-feet tall and over 270 pounds, Okafor is extremely light on his feet and uses it to his advantage very well.

Another strength of Okafor’s game that absolutely cannot be ignored is his ability to deal with double teams. Okafor dealt with more and more double teams as the season wore on, and he only became more adept dealing with them. His vision as a passer is underrated, and we saw countless times this season that he can easily find the open man when he finds himself trapped in a double team. This is a valuable asset for a big man that will likely draw double teams plenty at the NBA level.

Defensively, Okafor’s main strength is his size. His 7-foot-5 wingspan and his lower center of gravity make it difficult for opponents not only to move him in the post, but also to shoot over or around him. If there is one strength in Okafor’s defense, it’s his ability to defend the roll man in the pick-and-roll offense, where Okafor held opponents to 28% shooting in those situations.

Next: Weaknesses