• Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Mitchell Leff | Getty Images Sport)

The NBA Trade rumors feature the Philadelphia 76ers and why not? They are probably the most active team in terms of transactions and perhaps the most future assets aside from the Boston Celtics.

The difference is that the Celtics have one eye competing and looking forward. Their roster and the coach allow their fans some fringe playoff hopes and even beyond. The Sixers do not have that luxury as their roster, as described by an "unnamed scout" quoted by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer:

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Last night I asked a scout to describe the 76ers: "Two big men who don't really fit together and the rest is a D-league roster."

Sixers fans over at Real GM even had a poll on which center should the team keep. There was already a proposal for Noel, who is a future defensive stud and with the right team, can become an elite rim protector.

No less than ESPN Insiders Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton discussed Jahlil Okafor. They point out that Okafor is still leading all rookies in scoring at 18 points per game and despite the hype machine for Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis (perhaps because their teams are overachieving) still a solid Rookie of the Year candidate.

Ford said: "He's a low-post monster -- not only with his back to the basket, but also taking his guy off the dribble from the top of the elbow."

However, the other side of the court is where he struggles and it even cost him the top selection. The misgivings about his defense were "warranted" according to Pelton.

Ford mentioned that Okafor, despite his inflated numbers is not really a very efficient scorer. That being said, there are many reasons for this: He takes a lot of shots because the Sixers don't have options but he is also well-defended as even Nerlens Noel is not a threat to their opponents.

He also cast doubt on why the Sixers picked Okafor over Porzingis, Mudiay and Justise Winslow when they were obviously better fits for a team with Noel (and Embiid).

"The only justification I can really give for selecting Okafor is that Hinkie thought Okafor was the superior asset, that given his size and long history as a potential No. 1 guy, Hinkie believed he could fetch the highest price the fastest if he needed to move him."

The idea is that he is the best trade bait-and also, the Sixers real target was already taken.

"And there might be a team or two out there where Okafor fits better. I especially wonder about the Lakers," Ford said. "D'Angelo Russell has been a tough fit in L.A. The Lakers flipped from Okafor to Russell the night of the draft. Would the two teams consider swapping the two players? That would effectively be a draft-night trade, a few months later."

The Lakers could consider it and if the Sixers initiate, they could discuss the 2016 Top 3 protected draft pick that the Lakers owe them in 2016.

For the Lakers, they do have Roy Hibbert but he is a huge expiring contract and would be desired by teams needing cap space for the summer of Kevin Durant, etc.