The Philadelphia 76ers are still trying to move power forward Jahlil Okafor. It’s been more than two weeks since the Sixers decided not to pick up the fourth-year option on Okafor’s rookie contract. Multiple teams have already expressed interest in the former No.3 overall pick, but the Sixers front-office are seeking more despite their reported asking price of a mere second-round pick.
According to veteran NBA insider David Aldridge, the Sixers received various offers from several teams for the big man yet there’s still no resolution to the Okafor saga. The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are the top-2 front-runners for the former Duke Blue Devils standout, while the Phoenix Suns have expressed some interest in Okafor. The Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs are also viewed as potential suitors.
Sixers fear Okafor in green
While the Sixers are seeking for some assets in exchange for Okafor, they don’t want to take on any extra salary in a potential deal. Payroll flexibility is a priority for Philadelphia right now as they look to sign Robert Covington to a contract extension after November 15.
The Sixers are also against the idea of buying out Okafor’s contract because they strongly believe division rival Boston Celtics will quickly pounce on the big man once he hits the market.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe noted that the Celtics are very much interested in Okafor, but they don’t think he’s worth a first-round pick. They view the big man more of a project than an instant contributor to the team. The Celtics are already over the cap, yet they can still trade for Okafor without matching salary or claim him off a post-buyout market by using the $8.4 million DPE they received from Gordon Hayward’s injury.
Thunder eyeing a backup bigman
The Oklahoma City Thunder boasts one of the most talented offensive trio in the NBA (Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George), but their top-heavy lineup is undermining the productivity of their bench.
OKC is also dealing with a mediocre rebounding rate (42.1 rpg). The alarming fact is that their point guard (Westbrook) is still their leading rebounder in 8.6 rpg.
Greg Monroe, who was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Eric Bledsoe last week, is a trade/buyout candidate. With the Suns already saddled with multiple bigmen, Monroe knows he won’t be a fit for a rebuilding team like Phoenix. According to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post, The Thunder is viewed as potential suitors for Monroe, only if the Suns agree to a buyout. Oklahoma City can sign Monroe to a veteran minimum deal, addressing the depth issues at the center position. Other suitors are the Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.