Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors may have slowed down as the pre-season kicks off, but many issues of the various teams are already showing.
The Chicago Bulls has all its big guns at the backcourt and they may need to shore up their frontline offense. The solution could be a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers recently showcased the debut of Joel Embiid and now that they have seen the Kansas product in an actual NBA court, their other centers Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel are even more expendable.
According to ESPN Insider Chad Ford, Okafor's departure is all but done.
"But the writing is on the wall. The Sixers want to play up-tempo, with Ben Simmons, once he is healthy, as the floor leader and face of the franchise," Ford wrote." The team is optimistic that Joel Embiid's injury problems are finally behind him. If Okafor plays well early, look for them to use that momentum to get a deal done."
That was corroborated by Yahoo sage Adrian Wojnarowski who revealed that "the Sixers have had periodic trade talks this summer involving Noel and Okafor and plan eventually to move one of them, league sources said. Philadelphia doesn't believe the two players' talents are complementary."
There is a lot of work to be done to make Okafor attractive again. His low post scoring is still a definite asset but he must not be a liability in a fast-paced offense. The Sixers have tried to play him at power forward in tandem with Nerlens Noel (who were, prior to this season, their two best active players) and he must continue to improve on that.
A team like the Chicago Bulls would pose a perfect fit for Okafor since he brings them the frontcourt scoring that they sorely lack. Also, Okafor is a Chicago native.
In the same Insider feature, Tom Haberstroh named Jimmy Butler as a "player most likely to be traded." He notes that one of the three Bulls stars (Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo are the other two) could be available "but moving Butler would net the most return at the deadline, and it would also give the Bulls a fresh start in the Fred Hoiberg era."
The Sixers would definitely want to get a legit two-way star like Butler on their team but they may have to pay the price. Butler for Okafor would not be a fair exchange. If the Sixers are reluctant to trade off their 2017 first round pick, they could send the rights to the Lakers 2017 pick (Top Three protected) to the Bulls.
The Bulls could improve the balance of their roster and get a chance at a prime talent with a lottery pick in a loaded 2017 Draft. Still, they would be trading an All-Star so this is still a developing situation.
