Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images Sport)
The Philadelphia 76ers could end up trading Jahlil Okafor with a familiar trade partner.
In a proposal from ESPN Insider Chad Ford, he had the New Orleans Pelicans making a play for Sixers' rookie Jahlil Okafor.
In exchange, the Pelicans would send back the no.6 pick and reserve center Alexis Ajinca. As it was previously reported, the Sixers want another pick in the top 6 because of the rich backcourt prospects available. The Sixers allegedly want Kris Dunn which is why they are targeting the Boston Celtics at no.3.
However, for some reason, the Celtics trade has yet to fall and there are rumors that they want to package the pick for stars like Jimmy Butler or Paul George. The Celtics have the assets to do it.
Still, a no.6 overall pick can bring back Jamal Murray or Buddy Hield, depending on how the draft plays out. Both are backcourt shooters who can help in the Sixers progress.
An Okafor tandem with Anthony Davis is still far from ideal, but it would be much better than the Nerlens Noel-Okafor show that the Sixers have paraded. As Ford mentioned, "New Orleans isn't a perfect fit for Okafor -- I'm not sure there is one -- but this is the best the Sixers will do if they want to land another top pick."
However, the Pelicans fans are not so keen on the prospect of trading with the Sixers again as stated in this post from The Bird Writes, specifically because Okafor does not fit in with the faster pace that most teams are adapting.
"The reason the Pelicans should not show any interest in dealing their sixth pick for Okafor is simple: the fit isn't there," Oleh Kosel of TBW wrote. "Jahlil is not regarded as a strong rebounder or defender so a team would primarily be trading for offense, particular from the block area. That's certainly not going to help the Pelicans' transition game or plug their multiple defensive leaks."
Okafor is still a decent player despite his old-school, post centered play. He averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie year. There's no guarantee who the Pelicans would pick, let alone whether that player would deliver those numbers.
It would probably depend on what other moves the Pelicans are planning, but they don't have much more probabilities to improve the way a trade for Okafor can.
