Okafor in a funk at the foul line

SALT LAKE CITY - The foul shooter that Jahlil Okafor has been in the Utah Jazz Summer League is the opposite of the one he has been during practice.

The rookie center has made just 3-of-10 foul shots for the 76ers through two summer league games. But Okafor made six in a row during practice Wednesday. The 6-foot-11, 270-pounder also made 12 of 14 last week at a workout in Philadelphia.

His elbows remain in the right place. He gets good rotation on the ball.

What's the problem in games?

"It's just taking your time," said Sixers assistant Billy Lange, who is coaching the summer league team. "The heart rate's up in a game, his desire to play hard. You know, the pace of the game is going so fast then all of a sudden . . . he gets a chance to slow down physically."

Now, it's a matter of Okafor slowing down mentally.

His next opportunity to do so will be Thursday night in the Utah summer league finale against the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

Okafor was a good foul shooter at Whitney Young High School in Chicago. Things changed during his lone season at Duke when he made only 51 percent of his free throws.

"In college, a lot of it was mental," said Okafor, 19. Okafor acknowledged that he felt more fatigue from banging with bigger, stronger guys than he was accustomed to facing.

"I was talking to Coach Lange," he said. "It's just finding a way to calm myself down and just not put so much pressure on myself to make free throws."

Okafor is the headliner of the Sixers' draft class, but Richaun Holmes could prove to be a valued addition.

The 37th overall pick out of Bowling Green has been impressive in the Sixers' first two Utah Jazz Summer League games.

Averaging 11 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in a reserve role for the Sixers (1-1), the 6-foot-8, 248-pound power forward also has been clutch from the foul line, making 4-of-5 free throws.

"He just believes in himself," said Lange. "When he steps on the court, he's not overwhelmed with what's going on. So I think he's going to become more comfortable as time goes on."

The Illinois native hopes to bring energy to the Sixers as a rotation big next season.

"Be active. Rebound. Play defense," he said of his expected role.

"And just do the little things - hustle plays - to help my team win. I just want to do whatever I can do in the moment.'

Holmes averaged 11.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in three seasons at Bowling Green. He is the only player in school history with more than 1,000 points (1,089), 600 rebounds (652), and 200 blocks (244). His blocks total is a school record.

Lange thinks blocking shots is where Holmes will have the biggest impact.

"When he goes to the rim, he goes 100 percent," the assistant coach said.

"He's going to dunk that ball, or he's going to block that ball. So he's committed to that. He attacks the basket."

The NBA salary cap for the 2015-16 season will be $70 million, up from $63 million last season.