Jahlil Okafor (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers are still seeking a trade for one of their two big men, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel.
While there is definite interest in both players, teams may be waiting on the Sixers to drop the price tag as they know that Philly will suffer from a poor roster fit if they don't make a move. On that note, the Sixers may have to be practical and look at beneficial trades instead of demanding value.
This is the point of Sports Illustrated editor Matt Dollinger in his video feature regarding trade scenarios around the NBA. Okafor could fit well with the San Antonio Spurs because they know how to handle a post-up player.
Dollinger thought that Okafor was not a good fit for the Sixers even when he was drafted, and that's because the Sixers were all about taking the best talent regardless of fit at that time. The SI NBA editor thinks that Okafor could be a "perennial All Star" if he were on the right team.
Given his Duke background and the fact that Okafor has won at every level (high school, AAU, college), the Spurs with Coach Gregg Popovich should be a good fit. Even Spurs fans already thought this was a good idea prior to Tim Duncan's retirement. Ian Smith of San Antonio Spurs team site Air Alamo addressed that before the end of last season.
At that time, the Sixers were still demanding the moon and the stars for Okafor (or even Noel for that matter) as they wanted even more than the no.3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft for Okafor when they were reportedly discussing with the Boston Celtics.
But now, the price tag for Okafor has dropped considerably. The Sixers must accept that they can't get star value for him. Dollinger dropped the names of point guard Patty Mills, an Australian like Ben Simmons and/or Kyle Anderson as possible returns. Mills fills a positional need for the team and Anderson could be a helpful veteran wing.
While the Spurs does have Pau Gasol at the center spot, it should be noted that Gasol is already on his last playing years, possibly just two more seasons and he might hang up his sneakers. Okafor is a long-term investment for the Spurs that could benefit the team for years to come.
