Jahlil Okafor continues to be a name on the trade market ahead of Thursday’s deadline
The Chicago Bulls are reportedly still interested in acquiring Jahlil Okafor from the Philadelphia 76ers before the trade deadline passes on Thursday afternoon:
Chicago has continued to push on a trade for 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, league sources tell @TheVertical. Discussions continue.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017
Okafor has been at the center of trade rumors seemingly since he got drafted as the Sixers have looked to unload a crowded frontcourt after the emergence of Joel Embiid. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Philadelphia has been aggressively shopping the former Duke Blue Devil ahead of the trade deadline.
The deal will obviously hinge on what Chicago is willing to give up for the much maligned big man with some analysts speculating that it may take at least a first rounder to pry him away from the Sixers. It may also be necessary. With very few young prospects on the Bulls’ roster, a first round return would make sense.
For Chicago, Okafor would be an interesting project and a throwback to the olden days of post offense in the NBA. Okafor has a plethora of post moves and is obviously capable of scoring on opposing big men. It’s the other aspects of the game where he’s struggled. If the Bulls are willing to orient their second unit around Okafor’s scoring prowess on the block, he can still obviously be a useful NBA player despite the role he’s played in Philadelphia.
For Philadelphia, the need to move Okafor is getting urgent as he clearly does not appear to be a part of the team’s future plans. Embiid has shown All-Star potential over his small sampling of games this season and given the rumors surrounding Okafor, it seems clear that the Sixers are more interested in holding onto Nerlens Noel with Embiid in the frontcourt. That could ultimately drive down the value of Okafor as other teams lean on Philadelphia’s urgency.