Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor is reportedly on the trading block. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics' biggest asset can now be properly assessed-and eventually utilized.
As the draft lottery concluded, the Boston Celtics were right where they started from-with the third pick in the draft. Now they need to assess their position.
During the trade deadline, it was rumored that the Celtics were interested in Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor, dangling the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected 2016 draft pick. That was reported by Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald who noted then that the trade fell through because the value of the pick was undetermined.
There are also other reasons for both sides to hold their cards on that trade. For the Celtics, that pick could be no.1 and the value and upside of Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram is arguably higher than Okafor's. For the Sixers, there was a chance that they did not need the pick. If the Lakers fell to the no.4 spot, the Sixers have two top 5 picks along with their own.
Also, with the Sixers new management (Bryan Colangelo, the new GM), the philosophy is now focused on competing and they need to balance the roster.
In a video feature from CSNNE, Tim Welsh suggested that trade again. The rationale is that the Philadelphia 76ers have interest in Kris Dunn, a point guard from Providence who is arguably the most "NBA-ready" among his peers.
The Sixers failed to acquire the Lakers pick even as they snared the 1st overall pick. It would not be advisable to use it on Dunn as the franchise is also high on Ben Simmons. They already have a stacked frontline with Nerlens Noel and incoming Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. Okafor would be dispensable.
Kris Dunn has been compared to Dwyane Wade or John Wall, which were generous to say the least but he could still be very competent. However, the Celtics have Marcus Smart, recent All-Star Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley at those positions. What they have been pining for is a solid big man.
This is a win-win situation for both teams as it solves the two teams' respective positional congestions while addressing a need. The Celtics wanted to package the pick in a trade for a superstar like Jimmy Butler or DeMarcus Cousins but they would need a top two pick to pull that off. Since it stuck at no.3, Jahlil Okafor is probably the best return they can get.
