NBA Rumors: 5 draft day trades Minnesota Timberwolves should make

April 5, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is congratulated by guard Ricky Rubio (9) after making a basket while being fouled against the Golden State Warriors during overtime at Oracle Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Warriors 124-117. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) holds the ball away from Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jahlil Okafor

The Philadelphia 76ers have a logjam in the frontcourt, with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and the 2015 third-overall pick, Jahlil Okafor.

Since the regular season ended, rumors have swirled that the Sixers are looking to unload one of their big men, perhaps for a point guard, a glaring weakness for Philly.

The 76ers seem to be ready to put all of their eggs in the Joel Embiid basket, despite the fact that the 7 footer hasn’t taken the floor for an NBA game since being drafted third-overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. The strides made recently by Embiid, recovering from a broken navicular bone in his right foot which he needed a second surgery to repair in 2015, have Philly intrigued at the possibilities of the well-rounded big man. Especially paired with defensive stalwart Noel, who some believe could get the Sixer a better return than Okafor in a trade.

While it seems puzzling to imagine the Sixers would want to part ways with a player who averaged 17 points per game and 7 boards in his rookie season, Philly is attempting to speed up their rebuild under the new regime run by Jerry Colangelo and his son Bryan Colangelo, now the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager. The era of tanking run by then GM Sam Hinkie is now over according to the Sixers brass as they look to put a contender on the floor sooner rather than later.

What it would take to swipe Okafor away from Philadelphia is anyone’s guess but the Sixers could be intrigued by a package that includes a point guard like Rubio, and perhaps some other young pieces It’s likely the Sixer may ask for the no. 5 pick, but that deal would need to include a bit more.

Even though he’s predominantly a center, Okafor could step in immediately at the four next to Towns, giving the Wolves an impressive one-two offensive punch under the boards. While Okafor’s strength is clearly his offensive game, he made some strides under Brett Brown on the defensive side before being shut down at the end of the year with a knee injury back in March.

Next: 3: D'Angelo Russell

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