NBA Draft 2016: 5 players who could be traded on draft day
By Tom West
4. Jahlil Okafor
Taking a step up from the return that Noel could bring in for the 76ers, Jahlil Okafor — coming off a 17.5 points per game rookie season with 50.8 percent shooting — should catch the attention of a lot of teams. He doesn’t look like a Karl-Anthony Towns either now or in the future and his rebounding and defense (especially the latter) need major improvement. Nevertheless, he’s shown rare skill and well-developed footwork in the post, plus a short mid-range game that should continue to improve and expand as his career progresses.
However, the weaknesses are still obvious and with the team’s apparent faith in Joel Embiid to make an impact when he’s healthy, Okafor at center becomes more expendable when considering the trade return he could bring. If the 76ers really are ready to welcome Embiid into a major role with the franchise and draft Ben Simmons to bolster the forward positions, Okafor’s chance of being traded (possibly on draft night) increases.
As well as Noel, Jahlil Okafor is being shopped aggressively as the draft approaches, per ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chad Ford:
"Sources told ESPN that the Sixers are determined to gauge the trade market for both Okafor and Noel and are increasingly likely to move at least one of them in conjunction with the draft, in which Philadelphia holds the No. 1 overall selection for the first time since selecting Allen Iverson in 1996. In recent weeks, rival executives have been forecasting Philadelphia to be one of the most active teams this offseason in terms of pursuing trades, with new personnel boss Bryan Colangelo known to be aggressive and openly determined to speed Philadelphia’s return to playoff contention."
Keith Pompey took the aggressive shopping even further, reporting that the 76ers have looked to “at least 15 teams”. And if that is the case, even if no deals are close to completion, it’s obvious how they view Okafor’s future in Philly.
There’s no doubt that on offensive ability alone, Okafor has already showcased his potential to be a premier scorer down low, one that will be even more dangerous once his range increases. But if he is traded in a high-profile deal on draft day, maybe we can expect to see Embiid take over. It’s about time he graced the court.
Next: Jeff Teague