The Philadelphia 76ers still plan on moving one of Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel, according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Sixers have had periodic trade talks this summer involving Noel and Okafor and plan eventually to move one of them, league sources said. Philadelphia doesn’t believe the two players’ talents are complementary.
Philadelphia has long been interested in dealing one of their big men, even before former general manager Sam Hinkie was fired.
When the Sixers drafted Jahlil Okafor with the No. 3 overall selection in 2015, the choice immediately made fans skeptical. Naturally, many began to wonder how three young, promising frontcourt players could co-exist down the road. Eventually, there would be a major logjam in the team’s rotation.
What must be noted is that all of general manager Bryan Colangelo, head coach Brett Brown, and other various front office personnel think highly of Okafor’s teammate, Joel Embiid. The seven-footer out of Kansas is well perceived by many in the Sixers organization. Plus, he’s already a fan favorite (despite not playing in a single game yet). Head coach Brett Brown plans on using Embiid next season.
“I just left my third consecutive day working out with Joel 45 minutes ago,” Brown told ESPN last month. “Physically, mentally, recent medical scans, everything is pointing in the right direction. We’re just very excited.”
As it stands, Embiid, Dario Saric, and the 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons are the only recent lottery picks the team plans on keeping.
Trade speculation has been a constant thorn in the side of Nerlens Noel, who’s been on the Sixers longer than anybody on the roster. Noel received more attention this summer when he made various changes to his Twitter profile — his bio, profile picture, and header — Some of which previously having pro-Philadelphia context.
The 76ers prefer to deal Noel, according to multiple reports throughout the year. The team almost struck a deal at last year’s deadline, the draft, and the weeks leading up to the draft.
Philadelphia has spoken with nearly every team in the association in hopes of clearing up some room down low, said one league source over the summer. The Sixers’ most intense discussions took place with Boston, Atlanta, and a surprise team; The Phoenix Suns, the source said. Phoenix was eager, and is still open to dealing one of Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight.
Still, like all other times, nothing ever came to fruition.
Being given increased playing time is crucial to the development of Joel Embiid, who missed his first two seasons due to injury. By moving one of Noel or Okafor, this would allow him to develop faster.
For Embiid, rumors and past injuries are the last things he’s focusing on. Rather, his sights are firmly set on the start of training camp, just three weeks away.
“I feel 100%”, said Embiid at a recent Sixers event. “I’m ready to get started.”
While one young center is preparing to embark on his career in Philadelphia, two others are understandably somewhat cautious. A trade agreement can happen in an instant, and in this case, it might not happen before the season begins. Should the team fail to find a suitable deal, it could always wait until the market heats up around February’s deadline.
One thing is for certain, however. The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t interested in moving forward with three promising big men. In today’s small-ball oriented league, that tactic would be questioned by a plethora of Basketball analysts and fans.
Nevertheless, a trade involving either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel certainly appears imminent, as it always has. The question isn’t, and never has been, ‘will it happen?’. Rather, the question is, and has been for most since Embiid was selected, ‘when will it happen?’.
Only time will tell.
