Chicago Bulls: Is Trading For Jahlil Okafor Realistic?

With the trade rumor mill still going strong regarding the Chicago Bulls’ next moves, could they really be planning to trade for Jahlil Okafor?

The Chicago Bulls may have already made a handful of shocking moves this offseason, but that does not mean there won’t be more to come.

Recently, the trade rumor mill has been buzzing in relation to Chicago; from the possibility of DeMarcus Cousins coming aboard to join Rajon Rondo, to Stephen Jackson claiming that Jimmy Butler wants him on the Bulls, the organization has been a topic of discussion league-wide.

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And now it seems that many still believe a trade bringing Jahlil Okafor back home is on the horizon.

But just how realistic is that idea?

On the one hand, it seems unlikely that the Philadelphia 76ers would give up such an asset. For starters, while Okafor did not have as successful of a rookie year as first predicted, he still certainly proved his worth.

After spending a year at Duke University where he averaged 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game in 30.1 minutes of play, he finished his first year in the league by averaging 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per matchup in 30.0 minutes of play.

In other words, the transition from college ball to the pros was no big deal for Okafor.

Oh, and he was playing with a torn meniscus to boot.

There is also merely the problem of what Chicago could offer for him.

Names that have been popping up in trade talks have been Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis and even rookie Denzel Valentine — guys who definitely have potential and may even be decent fits in Philadelphia’s system, but still simply do not have the star-power to compete with a name like Okafor.

So while the 76ers may indeed be willing to give up their center for a price, it would probably require getting more than what the Bulls can offer in return.

It’s not exactly ideal for Chicago either.

In order for Philadelphia to even consider this deal, the Bulls would have to get rid of all three guys, if not more. Yes, the team did gain much-needed upgrades in talent this summer such as Rondo and Dwyane Wade, but they still need bodies to fill the roster with.

However, this potential trade is not a complete wash.

After all, Okafor is a Chicago native. After his mother passed away when he was nine, Okafor moved in with his father in the city’s south side. However, shortly thereafter, he relocated to the north side and attended Whitney Young High School where his basketball career took off.

LeBron James left South Beach to return to Cleveland. Wade just announced his decision to come back home. It is not at all uncommon for NBA players to want to play for their hometown teams.

Then there is the fact that general manager Gar Forman said he wanted to move the team in a direction of being younger and more athletic. While that absolutely could’ve just been an easy way to explain why losing Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol was no biggie, what front office would not want to operate under that vision?

After all, the addition of Rondo and Wade, though great for other reasons, did not exactly fall under those terms.

Adding a guy like 20-year-old Okafor however, would be doing just that.

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Should Bulls fans be expecting Okafor to head on over? No. It is definitely a stretch. But crazier things have happened, this offseason being the perfect example of that. So Okafor to Chicago? Not for now. But maybe….

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