Jahlil Okafor (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics could acquire Jahlil Okafor from the Philadelphia 76ers before the start of NBA teams' training camp.
The Celtics have been rumored to actively seek for another piece they could add in their already promising roster led by Al Horford. Among the notable names linked to the Celtics are Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin, who have been in the heat of trade talks in the past few weeks.
But according to CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely, the Celtics are likely to trade for Okafor instead Westbrook or Griffin, with Boston still open to a deal for the 20-year-old center until the start of this year's training camp.
"The consensus among league executives spoken to by CSNNE.com is that the most likely trade for Boston will be one in which they wind up with Philadelphia's Jahlil Okafor," Blakely wrote.
"The two teams were reportedly close to getting a deal done on draft night, and league sources claim both have kept the door ajar to getting a deal done between now and the start of training camp."
There is a growing sense this is the type of trade deal the Celtics would probably consider instead of swinging for the fences for Westbrook or Griffin.
Acquiring Westbrook and Griffin would no doubt significantly boost the Celtics' chances for another championship, which they have not won since 2008. But there are many levels pursuing a blockbuster deal may not be ideal for the C's.
For the Celtics to acquire either of the two aforementioned stars, they must give up young and tradable assets, which would likely include their core group of players who have been effectively playing under Brad Stevens.
Players like Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart should be included in any potential deal, but they are not worth trading for if it means disturbing the chemistry of a team that made it into the playoffs in the past two seasons without any legit superstar in their roster.
Moreover, as much as it is intriguing to see Westbrook pair with Horford, there is little sense acquiring a score-first point guard when the Celtics already have Isaiah Thomas running the point. Likewise, bringing another All-Star forward in Griffin would be redundant Boston plans to utilize Horford at the four spot, his natural playing position.
This is where trading for Okafor makes sense for the Celtics.
Bringing Okafor would slide Horford to the four spot, giving the Celtics a prolific scoring frontcourt tandem that could be an offensive threat inside the paint. Okafor's presence down low would open up Horford's perimeter game, as well as the Celtics' other shooters.
The Celtics won't also have to give up too many assets to the 76ers to land Okafor, keeping Boston's core roster perfectly intact.
There is a great chance this deal could happen, with the 76ers openly admitting they have to deal one of their big men. But that can only come to fruition if the Celtics' show a genuine interest in acquiring a scoring center like Okafor.
