Jahlil Okafor warms up prior to the game against the Utah Jazz on October 30, 2015. (Photo : Getty Images/Mitchell Leff)
Miami Heat president Pat Riley has revealed in a recent press conference that the career of Chris Bosh with the team is likely over. The latest rumors suggest that the Heat could look to add frontcourt player to replace Bosh and it could be Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers.
"There is not a next step for us, it's pretty definitive for us in our position. We headed down the road very excited to a point where we thought it would work. And then the physical couldn't clear him to the next step," Riley said via Forbes.
The Heat president also stated that the team is in a rebuilding process at the moment but they are rebuilding to win. They still have players such as Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside. However, Miami has lost players like Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson.
According to Bret Stuter of the Sixer Sense, the Heat will look to fill the void left by Bosh before or during the season. He opined that the Sixers have a couple of players on the trading block like Okafor and Nerlens Noel.
However, Stuter thinks that Miami is going to go for Okafor because of his offensive skill set rather than Noel, who is more of a defensive stalwart like Whiteside. The former second overall pick can pick up where he left off and average about 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
"While Hassan Whiteside rules the post defensively, Okafor would be ideal to come in and plunk in his 20 plus points," Stuter wrote.
It is also noted that the Sixers have plans to play the 20-year-old at the power forward position. Stuter thinks that a combination of draft picks from 2017-2020 and young players will do the trick. However, Philadelphia would prefer trading Noel at the moment than Okafor.
Noel is set for a big extension and he has expressed his displeasure at the Sixers front office. On the other hand, Joel Embiid's health is still not proven and he will be in a minutes-restriction to start the season. Having Okafor around gives Philadelphia insurance just in case Embiid breaks again.
Nevertheless, these are just rumors at the moment and nothing has been confirmed. Check out the video below for the Top 10 Plays of Bosh's career.
