Boston Celtics: Should They Go After Jahlil Okafor?
The Boston Celtics have been linked to Jahlil Okafor trade rumors in the past and now the Celtics could make the Philadelphia 76ers a great offer. If the Sixers want to part ways with Okafor, the Celtics should go after him.
The Boston Celtics have the No. 3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but it is hard to imagine the team is going to hold onto that pick. The Celtics want players that can make the team better immediately, which is why they are definitely going to try and trade the pick.
It is not going to be easy to trade the third pick, but that does not mean it cannot be done. Boston just needs to find the right suitor and the Philadelphia 76ers could be the best team to make a deal with.
The Celtics reportedly tried to make a move for the Sixers’ Jahlil Okafor during the trade deadline, but the sides could not agree on a deal. Now, it might be a little easier for both sides to agree on a deal.
The Sixers have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and they have far too many frontcourt players on their roster right now, which is why the team might want to part ways with Okafor.
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Boston could offer the Sixers their No. 3 pick and maybe another later 2016 draft pick for Okafor. The Sixers might take this deal because they could use another top-five pick to go along with either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.
The Celtics could make a pick at No. 3, but Okafor is a better prospect than any player they can draft at that spot if Simmons and Ingram go one and two. So, the Celtics should try to make a move for Okafor because of his offensive skill in the frontcourt.
How Could Okafor Help The Celtics?
Okafor averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in his rookie season and he only played in 53 games due to injury. Okafor does have problems on the defensive end, but he is an extremely gifted scorer down low for his age.
He can score in a variety of ways, and against the Celtics last season, he averaged 18.3 points per game in three games. If Okafor was with the Celtics. he would be the best offensive option for the team in the frontcourt.
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The Celtics could use an offensive weapon like Okafor, and he is actually a pretty good passer as well.
Okafor is still very young and he is a better prospect than anyone in the 2016 NBA Draft not named Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, this is why the Celtics should try to make a move for him with the No. 3 pick.
Overall
The Boston Celtics definitely wanted to land either the No. 1 or No. 2 pick, but they are going to have to settle with pick No. 3.
Although, it is not as valuable as the top two picks, the Celtics might be able to make a trade with a potential suitor like the Sixers who need to unload some of their already heavily crowded frontcourt.
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The Celtics could use Okafor on their team, and the Sixers could do without so many frontcourt players, so it could be a perfect match.