Ever since the moment when the Sixers selected Jahlil Okafor with the 3rd overall pick in last June’s NBA draft, the big man from Duke has been the center of trade rumors. Okafor never really projected to fit next to Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid. It didn’t work in theory and it certainly didn’t work in practice as Okafor struggled to fit into the Sixers roster this past season. The Sixers essentially gambled that Okafor could be a foundational piece for a championship level team and that his potential would outweigh his inability to coexist with the team’s other pieces in the frontcourt. It may have been less than 12 months since the Sixers drafted Okafor, but from my perspective, it is time that the team moves on from that gamble. Some say that the team can wait to trade Okafor. He may not fit but the Sixers can’t move on yet but he could still improve enough that you want to keep him. That’s what some Sixers fans will say but I just don’t agree with. Even if I did, there is likely to be a lack of frontcourt minutes to go around. As Rich Hoffman of Philly Voice detailed here, with the likely additions of Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and a healthy Joel Embiid, it may be difficult to find everyone enough time to play and develop.
Essentially, the Sixers have to decide between trading Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor. In my mind, this is an easy decision. While I do think that Okafor is somewhat underrated based on his production last season, I worry about the ability to build a great team around him. It is incredibly difficult to build a team around a terrible defensive and rebounding center. Okafor may be able to improve in these areas some, but I don’t think you can count on him to improve enough to have him be a focal point of your team. I also do not think that you can build around Nerlens Noel. However, due to Noel’s rim protection and lateral quickness, he is a much easier fit next to most players. Noel can play with a lot of different players with varying skillsets and his rim protection is an invaluable skill. I think Nerlens Noel may not be a superstar, but he has the potential to anchor an elite NBA defense. Simply put, I value Noel’s defensive ability and versatility more than Jahlil Okafor’s offensive potential.
Now that we have established that the Sixers need to move on from Okafor, I think we should look at some potential trades involving the big man. I specifically want to look at three possible landing spots for Jahlil. Some of these destinations have been rumored, other have not. There is no inside information here. These are simply some trades that I think the Sixers should look into. There are very few teams that fit Jahlil well. Most teams at the top of the lottery have heavily invested in at least one big men whose skillset clashes with Okafor’s. Still, there are some teams that the Sixers might be able to get a deal done with. I will examine these teams in order from least favorable to most favorable.
The New Orleans Pelicans
Sixers Get: The 6th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, a top 10 protected 2018 first rounder and Omer Asik
Pelicans Get: Jahlil Okafor
This trade is one that took some serious brain storming. I think the other two possible destinations for Okafor are fairly obvious but as stated above, it is hard to find a fit for Jahlil Okafor in terms of a trade partner. While I do not necessarily think that the Pelicans are a perfect fit, I think it could work. The main reason for a potential fit is Anthony Davis. Davis is the perfect example a player who can make up for some of Okafor’s deficiencies. Davis is one of the best shot blockers in the game and could certainly clean up some of Jahlil’s defensive mistakes. Davis also has the ability to step out and space the floor with a pure jumper. That kind of spacing could be key for allowing Okafor to continue to develop his offensive game.
The Pelicans could also use the Sixers cap space to get out of Omer Asik’s terrible contract. The Sixers will have plenty of space this summer in a year that won’t have the strongest free agent class. I think they could have the money to add some good players to their roster while still taking on Asik and his salary. Obviously there would be a price for taking on Asik’s contract. That price would probably be a low first round pick. A top 10 protected pick may seem a little high but the Pelicans are also trading the 6th overall pick for Okafor so it evens out.
From the Sixers perspective, I like this trade a lot. At 6th overall, they may still be able to add Jamal Murray or Kris Dunn. I would feel more comfortable drafting those players at 6 than at 3. They could also possibly choose from Timothe Luwawu, Buddy Hield or Jaylen Brown if Dunn and Murray are gone. I’m not sure I would target the same players as the Sixers but, in a vacuum, getting 6th overall and a future first rounder for Okafor and cap space isn’t bad. I don’t think the Pelicans would do this deal, but I think they are the most realistic candidate outside to trade for Okafor outside of the other 2 teams on this list.
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The Boston Celtics
Sixers Get: The 3rd and 16th picks in the 2016 NBA Draft
Celtics Get: Jahlil Okafor
A match between the Celtics and Jahlil Okafor has been rumored for months. There was talk before the 2015 NBA Draft that the Celtics may have wanted to move up for Jahlil and there was talk midseason that they were willing to move the Brooklyn pick for Okafor. It makes sense. The Celtics have a serious need in the frontcourt and they have the type of perimeter defenders who can minimize Okafor’s defensive load. Many have the Celtics trading just the 3rd pick for Okafor. Still, I think Okafor’s value may be a little higher than that and the Celtics were reportedly willing to give up this pick for Okafor when it still had the chance to be the number 1 or number 2 pick. Now that the lottery has played out the and both teams know it will be the 3rd pick in a two player draft, I think the Sixers are in a position to ask for more. I don’t think the Sixers would be willing to give up Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart wouldn’t a great fit with Simmons if the Celts were willing the part with him. I think the 16th pick is a fair addition to the deal. This pick is still in the range where the Sixers could have a chance at some of the more underrated players in the draft like Wade Baldwin, Denzel Valentine and possibly even Timothe Luwawu.
If the Celtics offer 3 and 16, the Sixers should definitely take it. They probably would also take just number 3 overall but as stated earlier, I don’t think it would be ridiculous to ask for more. At 3, the Sixers would probably look at add Kris Dun or Jamal Murray. I’m not sold on both of those guys for a variety of reasons. I don’t think Dunn’s lack of shooting fits with Simmons. I don’t think Murray can guard lead guards so he doesn’t really solve your point guard problem. Still, I’m not in charge of the Sixers so that doesn’t really matter. Like I said, I think the Sixers would make this deal but If I were the Celtics, I wouldn’t make either trade because I think they are better off just taking Dragan Bender. However, the Celtics may not be patient enough to wait for Bender to develop or may just value Okafor potential more highly. I think this is certainly the most plausible match and it will be interesting to see if the Sixers can get it done.
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The Los Angeles Lakers
Sixers Get: The number 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
Lakers Get: Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, 2019 Kings first round pick
This is the dream scenario. The Sixers land both Simmons and Ingram. It would certainly be a high price. It would cost the number 3 pick from last year’s draft, another former lottery pick and a future pick that could land anywhere. Still, I think you trade all that for a prospect of Ingram’s caliber. Adding Ingram’s shooting and scoring ability alongside a player like Simmons would be incredible. Ingram could use his length to take the tougher defensive assignment between the small and power forwards on most nights. It would just be incredible on both sides of the ball. This may seem like a lot for Sixers fans but it honestly might not be enough. I could see the Lakers refusing this trade if they really love Ingram. Sure, the assets that the Sixers give up are all great but none of the them may ever be as good as Ingram. The Kings pick has the most potential but it’s so far away that it may not be as enticing to the Lakers. Still, I think if you are the Sixers, you throw as much as you can at the Lakers. If they also want Stauskas or Grant or Holmes, you do it. Ingram has the potential to be a franchise player. The opportunity to get two franchise players in this draft is too precious to pass up. However, like I said, this may not be enough to get the Lakers to bite so let’s look at a slightly more realistic trade.
Sixers Get: D’Angelo Russell
Lakers Get: Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, 2017 Lakers first round pick
Russell was the guy everyone thought the Sixers would get last year. Everyone thought that the Lakers would take Okafor at 2 and Russell would fall to Philly at number 3. This obviously wasn’t the case as LA selected Russell and the Sixers ended up with Okafor. So why would LA have any motivation to take the player they passed on last year? Well first of all, the Sixers are adding a lot else here. The Lakers will get their own first round pick back along with a good prospect in Dario Saric. I also think the Lakers may want to move on from Russell after the scandal involving the recording of teammate Nick Young. I think this would be an overreaction by the Lakers, but if they do feel this way, the Sixers have the ability to pounce.
This is obviously a lot for the Sixers to give up for Russell but his combination of playmaking and shooting would probably be worth it. I don’t value him as highly as Ingram so I won’t include the Kings pick but I think the uncertainty of the Lakers pick makes it easier to part with. The Kings pick is also uncertain but I have little faith in the Kings to be even decent in the near future. I’m not sure if either side would do this deal. If I had to guess, I would say the Sixers would and the Lakers would not. Still, I think it’s certainly a deal that could get done.
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Now I don’t know if any of these trades get done. I tried my best to make these deals as even as possible. Still, that’s the hard part about trades. Some will insist these trades have the Sixers giving up too much. Others may say they won’t be able to get this much for Okafor. I think this exercise just shows how difficult it might be for the Sixers to find a trade partner and even if they do, it will be just as difficult to find the right pieces to make the deal work. Still, I think the Sixers have to deal Okafor and I think that they will get it done before the start of the 2016-17 season. Sixers fans will certainly wait with bated breath to see what their team can get in return for the talented big man, as it could be a franchise altering move.
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