The Philadelphia 76ers are hell-bent on completing an NBA trade to get rid of Jahlil Okafor. Several teams are rumored to be interested in Okafor, and now it seems like they already know what assets to sacrifice to land the young center.
According to ESPN, the Philadelphia 76ers might give up Jahlil Okafor in exchange for second-round picks. A potential NBA trade featuring Okafor became inevitable after the Sixers decided not to pick up the fourth-year option included in his rookie contract.
Among the ones reportedly eyeing Okafor are the Phoenix Suns, who are also trying to part ways with one of their players via an NBA trade.
The Suns are looking to deal away Eric Bledsoe. Once they accomplish this, they could focus on acquiring Okafor from the Sixers.
Jahlil Okafor to Beantown
The Boston Celtics are also believed to be targeting Jahlil Okafor. If this is true, then the Philadelphia 76ers may get their wish of receiving future second-rounders or selections for Okafor. The Celtics have plenty of assets, most of which are picks gathered from their previous NBA trades.
If Jahlil Okafor ends up in Boston when he splits up with the Sixers, he is going to provide youth to the Celtics' frontline, which features veterans like Al Horford and Aron Baynes. His scoring would also be of huge help to the C's who lost an offensive weapon in Gordon Hayward.
The former Duke standout has a career average of 14.7 points per game. Okafor's contract is favorable for the Celtics as well since it only has a year left in it. Once he fails to impress, they can let him walk away after the 2017-18 season as an unrestricted free agent. But if he delivers, a new deal is in his future.
Jahlil Okafor wants out
Jahlil Okafor just aims to leave the Philadelphia 76ers. Okafor made that clear during his time speaking to the media last Wednesday. The No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft told reporters that he did not want the Sixers to pick up his option, which is what happened. He is happy for the organization and is hoping for the best, but he intends to play.
Okafor started to fall out of the Sixers' rotation when franchise star Joel Embiid made his much-awaited debut in the previous season. Despite the limitations because of injuries, Philadelphia relied on Embiid since then as they made him the starter. The emergence of Richaun Holmes, plus Amir Johnson's arrival in this year's offseason made Okafor's situation worst.
