The Boston Celtics are interested in big man Jahlil Okafor, who is being actively shopped by the Philadelphia 76ers. According to Tom Westerholm of Mass Live, the Celtics could become a potential landing spot for Okafor due to their need in size. They could offer their protected first-round pick to the 76ers to get the 2015 third overall pick. The Celtics have Al Horford, Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris and young guys Daniel Theis, Yabusele and Semi Ojeleye. Okafor is an agile big man who can become a matchup problem for any team. However, the Celtics have several hurdles in adding Okafor as they have a very tight salary cap space.
Aside from that, Okafor is only known for his offense and not for his defense and rebounding. The Celtics made waves in the offseason after signing Gordon Hayward from the free-agent market and acquiring Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
76ers to check rest of league
Earlier, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the 76ers “will check the rest of the league” to determine what they can get for Okafor, who became expendable with the return of Joel Embiid and the emergence of Richaun Holmes as backup center. The 76ers also have Dario Saric at power forward, creating a logjam that could only be solved if Okafor is traded. Holmes averaged a career-best 9.8 points in 57 games last season as backup to Embiid.
After Embiid went down with a season-ending injury in the latter part of the season, Okafor regained his starting spot. He finished with averages of 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 50 games, with 33 starts. However, these numbers paled in comparison to Okafor’s output in his rookie year, where he averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per outing.
After playing 30 minutes per game in his rookie year, his playing time dropped to 22.7 last season as he became a liability on defense.
Okafor wants to stay with 76ers
If he will have his way, Okafor said he wants to stay with the 76ers as he expects great things to happen in Philadelphia with the return of former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons and the selection of Markelle Fultz as the No.
1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Inquirer said Okafor can stay with the Sixers if he accepts a backup role, which the big man is willing to accept, as long as he remains with the team. “I love being here. I've remained close with everybody here. We have amazing teammates," Okafor told Cooney. In his two seasons with the 76ers, the 6-foot-11 Okafor averaged 14.7 points, 6.0 points, and 1.1 blocks in 103 games.
