Well Jahlil is what he is right now, and he had a year of a better Amir Johnson on his team (Noel) and we all saw how that worked out. So no, I don't think that pairing will work out well. Amir wasn't reliable enough to spread the floor, and Jahlil will only compound the issue.
Well-stated argument.
My thought is that Amir brings experience and maturity to the pairing, and C's defensive culture makes a difference as well. In addition Okafor is only 53 games (most of them as a 19 year old) into.his NBA career. Why would we assume he won't get bigger, stronger and more effective defensively with physical and mental maturity over the next couple of years?
Oh, to be honest I am on the fence about where Okafor is going to go in this league (effectiveness wise,) as I wasn't writing him off, but the notion of a Jahlil and Amir combo. I think for Jahlil to be put in the best situation, he needs a weak side shot blocker who can spread the floor. Amir a few years ago would have been decent, but ideally he needs a much better shooter to pair with him.
If we get that weak side shot blocker who could switch and do all of the things okafor can't defensively, I have no doubt Okafor could turn into at least a competent defender. Will he make the all NBA defense? No of course not. But he is freaking huge, and weighs alot (in the good non jared sullinger way) so he would be able to hold his own as a post presence ideally.
In a way, the best player you could get to pair with Okafor going forward to grow together, might be Dragan Bender lol.