The Duke Blue Devils are still in the professional basketball news as talks spin around former player Jahlil Okafor.
No name has been more bandied about in trade talks than former Duke Blue Devils forwardJahlil Okafor. It seems that his entire two year career has been one big trade rumor even dating back to draft night.
It was well known that the Philadelphia 76ers had too many big men once they draftedBen Simmonsthis past year.Joel Embiidbecame healthier.Dario Saricarrived from overseas. That conflicted with the possible minutes forNerlens NoelandJahlil Okaforin their development. The team even addedErsan Ilyasovaearlier this year, which added another guy needing post minutes.
Ilyasova may be gone now to the Atlanta Hawks, but the problem remains. Potentially it is even worse since Ilysova was swapped forTiago Splitter, another center who cannot play on the wing. The signs have never been clearer that the 76ers need to make changes.
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There are also multiple suitors who have been interested in Okafor over the years. The Celtics were once the favored party. There were talks with other teams. Now the favored rumor would be to send Okafor to the Indiana Pacers according to reports fromRamona Shelburne of ESPN.
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The Pacers started the year slow, but now are squarely in the playoff hunt. They are anchored byPaul George, but could use talent at the five spot. That is where Okafor could theoretically fit in. That would allow the Pacers to rely less onAl Jeffersonat that spot. In any event there would be less bodies to compete with than with Philadelphia.
The NBA Trade Deadline is today. If nothing exciting happens then this will have to go down as one the most hyped and least fulfilling trade periods in recent memory. Perhaps Okafor will have a new address by midnight, or the 76ers rebuild will continue to be interesting.
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