It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers have a glut of talented big men, and it’s no secret the Boston Celtics still long for a star that could put them over the top despite the offseason addition of Al Horford. Might Bryan Colangelo and Danny Ainge strike a deal that could help both franchises? While a long-rumored trade between the Sixers and Celtics isn’t anything close to imminent, a new report indicates it’s still a possibility.
Philadelphia and Boston haven’t quite closed the door on a potential swap involving promising Sixers big man Jahlil Okafor, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Among the Celtics’ trade options, CSNNE.com reports, acquiring the 6-foot-11, 257-pound Okafor is the one most likely to happen.
A potential road block: The Celtics’ apprehension about Okafor – who had a rocky off-court start to his career during his rookie year – playing in a city like Boston, The Inquirer says.
Though the 6’11 center is undeniably gifted, it also bears wondering if a player who’s a potential star as opposed to an established one is the type of guy for whom Ainge believes is worth paring down his considerable stable of tradable assets. The knee injury that’s currently keeping Okafor from participating with USA’s Basketball’s Select team is surely a complicating factor, too, as is the common knowledge that Philadelphia hopes to deal at least one of him, Nerlens Noel, or Joel Embiid before February’s trade deadline.
Regardless, this is certainly yet another Celtics-centric proposal that warrants monitoring as the the 2016-17 season approaches. Boston is closer to legitimate championship contention than it’s been in the Brad Stevens era, and there’s a chance one additional player could propel the green and gold to that esteemed caliber.
Could Okafor do just that this season or down the line? More than anything else, the answer to that question will be what decides if this talk ever becomes anything more concrete.
