The Boston Celtics are interested in acquiring Philadelphia 76ers big man Jahlil Okafor, but they won’t give up their first-round pick to get him. According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, the Celtics have been interested in Okafor for a long time, believing that he can immediately provide an impact on the team. However, the Celtics are unwilling to surrender a first-round pick just to get the former third-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The 76ers placed Okafor on the trading block after they didn’t exercise the fourth-year option on his rookie contract.
Okafor, for his part, has asked the 76ers for a buyout, but the latter wants to get something in return for him. At the moment, Okafor is out of the 76ers rotation, despite the fact that starting center, Joel Embiid, is not cleared for back-to-back games. The San Antonio Spurs might also trade for the 6-foot-11 Okafor, who averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 boards, and 1.2 assists in 50 games last season.
Bledsoe not returning to Suns
According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, Eric Bledsoe will return to the Phoenix Suns' facility to work out with staff members this week. However, Charania said Bledsoe will not rejoin the team and will simply use the facilities to keep himself in shape while waiting for a trade.
The Suns may wait until December 15, where players who were signed in the offseason become eligible to be traded. The Suns placed Bledsoe on the trading block after he publicly announced that he wanted out of the team after a 0-3 start.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and the New York Knicks expressed interest in trading for Bledsoe, who averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 66 games last season.
However, it was reported that the three teams did not pursue the 27-year-old Bledsoe due to the high demand by the Suns.
Pistons not trading Jackson for Bledsoe
Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy denied that the team plans to trade point guard Reggie Jackson to the Suns for Bledsoe. Van Gundy, who is also the team’s president of basketball operations, said he assured Jackson that he will not be traded to the Suns.
According to Van Gundy, he called Jackson after he learned of the trade rumors after Thursday’s practice. In 10 games this season, Jackson averaged 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Bledsoe, for his part, tallied 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in three games with the Suns this season.
