Jahlil Okafor (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers got their no.1 pick and used it to get longtime target Ben Simmons. However, their rest of their plans have yet to pan out.
They needed a point guard first and foremost, and scoring at the wing. They have failed to address that as their latest targets have also been taken off the market.
Rajon Rondo and Jamal Crawford are two veterans who could have helped the Sixers but according to CSN Philadelphia, they have signed with other teams. Crawford got a revised offer from the LA Clippers at 3 years/$42 million and Rondo is reportedly the new point guard for the Chicago Bulls.
While Rondo and Crawford are on the senior side (Rajon is 30 and Jamal is 36), they would have been welcome additions to the Sixers who are brimming with youth and size on the frontcourt. Now, the roster needs some balance.
With the free agent market drying up, the only recourse would be to trade. Fortunately for the Sixers, a familiar trade partner could provide a solution. According to New Orleans Pelicans team site The Bird Writes, the team is willing to place Tyreke Evans on the trade market.
"Tyreke Evans, however, is the most likely to go. Destinations are dwindling as teams solidify their backcourts."
The Pelicans are willing to part with the former Rookie of the Year awardee who is a "score first" point guard with considerable size. This may remind the Sixers of Michael Carter-Williams, another ROY awardee whom the team traded away, but they do not have too many options at this point, as Philly also let Ish Smith walk, and he was taken by the Detroit Pistons.
Evans is still a capable scorer and can still penetrate and kick-off to start the offense. Meanwhile the Sixers could probably trade center Jahlil Okafor for him.
The Sixers had high hopes when they placed Okafor on the market but his trade value really dwindled. There are also a lot of teams that were able to address their center concerns through free agency as former reserves Bismack Biyombo and Ian Mahinmi have earned starter's jobs (and contracts).
The new market has determined the players' trade value and sad to say, Okafor got the raw end of the deal. With the added cap space, teams preferred to overpay rather than swap real assets for a center.
