The Philadelphia 76ers may end up trading Jahlil Okafor instead of Nerlens Noel with the latter blending in well with Joel Embiid. (Photo : Getty Images for Play Golf Designs, Inc./Lisa Lake)
The NBA trade rumors are reaching fever pitch as the Philadelphia 76ers may have reached a decision on their center conundrum.
Three young centers drafted in three straight years: Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor were all heralded in their entry but two of them are considered as excess baggage now. It might not be a fair assessment as all three may not have had their fair share of opportunity.
This is the contention given by ESPN Insider Chad Ford, who believes that Okafor, not Nerlens Noel will be the center that the Philadelphia 76ers will trade off. He revealed this in his assessment of NBA sophomores.
"But I don't think Okafor is as bad as he looks many nights in Philly either. He needs a change of scenery badly and all indications are that the Sixers are going to give it to him -- probably in the next month. On a different team in a different situation, I think Okafor can be a quality starter in the NBA someday," Ford stated.
Based on what Chad Ford mentioned, the question is no longer "if," maybe not even "when" but "where." CBS writer James Herbert discussed why Okafor to the Boston Celtics would be a great idea-this was during the summer, but the reasons still hold true.
"Theoretically, Horford and Okafor can play together. Neither one of them is a great shot blocker, but Horford is a smart, strong and agile enough defender to make it work. Horford's ability to stretch the floor helps, too. It's hard to hide some of Okafor's flaws, but Stevens showed with Evan Turner that he's capable of getting the most out of someone who had before looked out of place in the modern NBA," Herbert argued.
Players like Turner, Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder were overlooked on their former teams but flourished under Brad Stevens. There seems to be no reason why Okafor wouldn't.
Herbert concluded, that "in the right system, if he works on his weaknesses, Okafor could become an All-Star player." It's hard to judge any young player, barely out of his teens, in the Sixers' system (or lack thereof.).
The other possible destination would be Portland. The Trailblazers have been searching for a go-to option at the frontcourt as their backcourt is well set with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Okafor is a possible solution.
The only reason an Okafor trade has yet to transpire is that the Sixers may be asking for too much. Rumors stated that they asked for the no.3 pick in the 2016 Draft from Boston and McCollum from Portland-Okafor's value now is nowhere near those. If the Sixers take a fair shake, they could finally pull this off.
