Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo admitted either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel could be traded "at some point."
It is no secret the 76ers are looking to add quality pieces in their young talented squad led by Australian phenom Ben Simmons. But it is also known Philadelphia could be trading one of their young big men, which could come down between Okafor and Noel. In an interview with SiriusXM NBA radio, Colangelo may have hinted trading Okafor and Noel, insisting that one of the two young big man will be traded at some point.
While there is no indication if the 76ers are truly considering trading away Okafor and Noel, dealing either of the two is the team's only chance to significantly upgrade their roster and possess a better shot to be contenders next season.
Noel has been the topic of trade talks in recent weeks, most recently linked with the Toronto Raptors, according to the Toronto Star's Bruce Arthur.
"Talks for Philadelphia power forward Nerlens Noel, the sixth pick in the draft two years ago, fell apart on draft night - per sources, Terrence Ross was in play, but the Raptors asked for more. Another move seems likely," Arthur wrote.
The 76ers need shooters to surround and complement Simmons' game. The Raptors could give up Ross, an athletic small forward who can knock down shots from beyond the arc, shooting a respectable 38.6 percent from that area.
While a straight swap of Noel for Ross works on ESPN's trade machine, any potential deal would likely include other tradable assets to sweeten the pot for both teams.
On the other hand, Okafor has been heavily linked to the rumor mill, which seems to have upset the incoming sophomore center, according to Tom Moore of the Morning Call.
"An NBA source said Colangelo 'tried like hell to trade Okafor.' As a result, Okafor is 'upset and his people are upset'," Moore wrote.
"Colangelo and the Sixers then turned their attention to Noel, but nothing happened there, either."
The Celtics have been consistently thrown by rumors as the potential landing spot for Okafor, who could form a scary frontcourt in Boston with star center Al Horford. If the 76ers decide to deal Okafor to the Celtics, a deal involving Marcus Smart and James Young should work, according to ESPN's trade machine.
Smart would give the 76ers a talented point guard they have been looking for, while Young would provide them another young prospect they could mix well with their own core of young talents.
It is almost certain that either Okafor or Noel could be shipped this offseason or at the first half of the 2016-2017 regular season, although it remains to be seen who among the two is the odd man out. But as long as the price is right, Philadelphia should have no problem choosing between Okafor and Noel.
