The LA Lakers have a trade asset that is coveted around the league with the 2nd overall pick.
While the Lakers have mentioned that they would rather keep the pick, it does not mean they are averse to trading it later.
It was earlier predicted that they want to trade the pick for a superstar veteran but the usual trade suspects, DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler and recently, Paul George have steep price tags. Besides, the Lakers have the opportunity to sign veteran stars through free agency.
Perhaps the Lakers can set more realistic goals for their pick. One of the teams rumored to be interested in the pick was the Philadelphia 76ers. Harrison Feigen of Silver Screen and Roll explored the possibility of the team trading for Okafor and he does not seem to favor it.
Feigen opined on the hypothetical trade that would send the no.2 pick for Okafor and the 2017 first round pick of the Lakers currently owned by Philly which is top 3 protected (like the 2016 one). Okafor is an "old school" center who posts up with his back to the basket and Feigen believes that Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are not in the same mold.
"(Simmons and Ingram) would seem to fit better in the modern NBA than the throwback post game of Okafor. Philadelphia's forward also raises similar fit issues alongside Julius Randle that Simmons does, seemingly without as high upside."
In this context, the argument shifts on the side of the Lakers. They will have a new coach who practices the "modern game" in Luke Walton. If he will have a true center, it would be more for defense, rim protection and rebounding more than isolation post ups. Are the Lakers better off trading for Nerlens Noel than Jahlil Okafor?
This is an intriguing concept especially after the report from ESPN that the Sixers are willing to explore trades not just with Okafor but also with Noel.
"Sources told ESPN that the Sixers are determined to gauge the trade market for both Okafor and Noel and are increasingly likely to move at least one of them in conjunction with the draft."
It would be pretentious to assume that this is for the Lakers benefit, but the possibility looms that they could not get the value offers from dangling Okafor.
Most observers would view that Okafor has more value than Noel. The hypothetical trade of no.2 for Okafor plus returning the 2017 pick to the Lakers is perceived to be too high a price for the Sixers. Would they be willing to make this trade if Noel was the one involved?
These are all hypothetical scenarios based on the recent reports and rumors at this point, but they could actually be happening behind the scenes.