Philadelphia 76ers Trade Options As Deadline Looms
By Simon Smith
Assessing Okafor
The Sam Hinkie era, aka “The Process,” saw the 76ers in a position to accumulate multiple high lottery picks. The most recent of these was Jahlil Okafor, the former Duke product who was touted to be the possible No.1 overall pick during his solitary season with the Blue Devils.
At 6-foot-11 and just recently turned 21, Okafor presents a tantalizing prospect for a number of teams around the league.
Okafor has demonstrated in his 87 career games to this point that he can become one of the supreme low post players in the game. Combining this with his size and basketball intelligence can make him a handful for any opponent.
However, the defensive side of his game is where the question marks abound.
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The Sixer Sense
The 76ers are allowing 109.9 points per 100 possessions with Okafor on the court and 103.7 when he is resting. Overall this season, the Sixers are minus-15.1 points per 100 possessions with Okafor on the floor. They are just minus-2.4 when he is off the court.
Therefore, the Sixers need to target which teams could be interested in Okafor’s services, and what they could obtain in return.
Orlando
Considering the makeup of the Orlando Magic roster, it’s little surprise that they find themselves with a 20-33 record and seemingly headed nowhere.
Despite having a number of recent lottery selections (Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja), they have yet to land a player who could be confidently labeled a future All-Star.
Okafor possesses the talent level that would enthrall a team such as the Magic. Their recent acquisition in forward Serge Ibaka is someone who could ideally fit the 76ers’ future blueprint.
Still just 27 and with the ability to stretch the floor, Ibaka alongside Embiid would form a lethal defensive presence for the Sixers.
The key elements of a potential deal would be as follows:
Philadelphia receives: Serge Ibaka, Mario Hezonja
Orlando receives: Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric
Click here to see how the trade would pan out.
Utah
A deal with the Utah Jazz could be a real possibility. Jazz forward Derrick Favors has been oft-injured and will be a free agent at the end of the 2017-18 season.
The Jazz have recently committed a huge deal with center Rudy Gobert and have All-Star Gordon Hayward and point guard George Hill hitting free agency this summer.
The No. 3 overall pick of the 2010 draft and still just 25, Favors could very easily be the odd man out in Utah. Favors possesses a versatile inside-outside game and would represent a great second-fiddle to play alongside Embiid. Here is an example of Favors at his best:
As an extension of the proposed deal, young point guard Dante Exum could be a bargain of a find if they could pull off the transaction.
Coming back after missing last season with a torn ACL, Exum is slowly starting to show glimpses of the player the chose with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2014 draft.
Philadelphia 76ers
Furthermore, Exum could be reunited with 76ers’ rookie and childhood friend, Ben Simmons. Combined with another Australian connection in head coach Brett Brown, this could be a multi-faceted win for the Sixers.
For Utah, the 7-foot-1 defensive presence of Gobert would provide a great cover for the defensive deficiencies of Okafor. In addition, Okafor would provide the Jazz with the elite post scorer they have lacked since the days of Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap.
The key elements of a potential deal would be as follows:
Philadelphia receives: Derrick Favors, Dante Exum
Utah receives: Jahlil Okafor, Jerryd Bayless
Click here to see how this trade pans out.
Phoenix
The Phoenix Suns are presently a team heading nowhere. Aside from their dynamic backcourt of Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker, the team as a whole has simply not gelled under first-year head coach Earl Watson.
A move for Okafor would provide the Suns with a legitimate low-post option, something clearly lacking on their roster. Veteran defensive center Tyson Chandler would provide a terrific complement alongside Okafor in their frontcourt.
For the Sixers, they’d be acquiring an under-utilized point guard in Brandon Knight, who just last season averaged 19.6 points and 5.1 assists per game. Further, third-year forward T.J. Warren would provide the Sixers with a legitimate wing scoring threat.
Warren started this season on fire, averaging 20.0 points on 47.3 percent shooting over the first 11 games before missing time with a concussion.
Knight is on a very favorable contract, earning $12,606,250 this season with steady increments until it expires after the 2019-20 season. Meanwhile, Warren’s rookie contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Check out the following highlights of Knight excelling against Golden State Warriors in the midst of their 73-win season:
The key elements of a potential deal would be as follows:
Philadelphia receives: Brandon Knight, T.J. Warren
Phoenix receives: Jahlil Okafor, Jerryd Bayless
Click here to see how this trade pans out.