FanPost

What if the Okafor trade went through?

Just curious here about a little NBA what if?

At this point its public knowledge that Jahlil Okafor was very much ALMOST traded from the Sixers to somewhere. He went to the point of literally being pulled from the lineup, missing a team trip and saying his goodbyes. Most likely destination seems to have been Portland with New Orleans also in play.

Report: Trail Blazers Almost Traded for Jahlil Okafor

Sixers' Jahlil Okafor almost sent to Pelicans instead of DeMarcus Cousins

A package that, according to this report, the Sixers essentially turned down for Okafor.

***************************************************************************

Pels offered Tyreke Evans, 2017 1st rounder and future pick for Jahlil Okafor. Same package for Cousins, but with Buddy Hield added. BUDDY!

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reports the pick the Pelicans offered for Okafor was top-20 protected.

So did the Sixer's think resolving their logjam with Justin Anderson + TWO 2nd rounders was better than fixing it with Tyreke Evan + a late 1st rounder? To be fair not sure what the top 20 protected late first would have rolled over to, it it rolled over to 2nd rounders then it may have been Justin Anderson > Tyreke Evans which for the Sixers rebuilding ages and contract I think is probably true.

The 2017 deep draft 2nd rounder in particular could be more promising than it might appear.

Adding to the Okafor-Almost mystery is this latest Okafor-Almost-A-Celtic report:

When Celtics GM Danny Ainge came out after the NBA’s trade deadline and said that he was very close on a deal to acquire a star player, it obviously drummed up plenty of interest.

....

Ainge wouldn’t say who that player was, and he wouldn’t reveal the team that he said backed out of a trade at the very last minute. But now, via Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, we may have an answer.

That is not to say this isn’t a team of talented players with very good attitudes that is very entertaining and can hang with some of the best in the league on given regular-season nights. But not even the most optimistic Greenheart believes this roster is ready to play in June.

Danny Ainge clearly doesn’t. And that is healthy. It’s why he spent the last several days trying to get the kind of magnetic player needed to lift the Celtics from the NBA’s middle earth. While a league source has indicated the late target Ainge has referred to in radio interviews was Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor, Ainge has turned silent on the matter.

Hmm, so if that report is true does it mean that Danny Ainge does (secretly) consider Jahlil Okafor a young "star player"?

Maybe that's also why Bryan Colangelo seems to think Okafor is worth more than a lot of the public and fans think at the moment?

As ridiculous as it may sound Okafor did actually roll out of bed and get 28 points 10 rebounds in 28 minutes last night against the New York Knicks. Not every backup center can do that can they?

So here's my question.

What if Okafor had been traded instead of brought back from purgatory to Philly?

Would Nerlens Noel still have been traded as well or were the Sixers prepared to match a probable Max or Maxish offer for Noel this summer?

Keep in mind this isn't just a question of whether they liked Noel better than Okafor because the 2 contract statuses were are very different. Keeping Noel is expensive and changes the cap future. Keeping Okafor was a value but still its undeniable that Philly was NOT going to keep Okafor if one of the Mystery deals for him had gone through.

So if Okafor was traded, would Noel to Dallas have happened too or would Nerlens have been matched and remained a Sixer?

What's your guess Sherlock?

A user-created LB joint. The Liberty Ballers staff does not contribute to FanPosts.