Report: The Sixers are Trying to Get a First Round Pick out of the Pelicans for Okafor
According to USA Today’s Sam Amick, the Sixers are in talks with the Pelicans for Jahlil Okafor. The Sixers apparently want a first rounder:
Sixers & Pelicans in talks about sending Jahlil Okafor to New Orleans. Philly pushing for NO 1st rounder. Story coming at @USATODAYsports
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 6, 2017
And Woj has it but with fewer details:
Philadelphia and New Orleans engaging in talks focused on a trade for 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2017
A first round pick, unless it’s highly protected, seems like higher value than many thought Okafor had around the league. The Pelicans currently have one more win than the Sixers and would own this year’s 5th best lottery odds if the season ended today. There’s no word on which year the pick would be for. We’ll have more as more comes out.
UPDATE: Pelicans are willing to give up a lottery protected first if the Sixers take the salary of one of their inhuman giants:
Source: If PHI will not eat Asik or Ajinca. NOP wants heavy protections that slide eventually to two 2nd round picks down the line.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 6, 2017
Sixers could be getting back unhappy center Alexis Ajinca and a future 1st round pick in a Jahlil Okafor trade to New Orleans, a source said
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 6, 2017
UPDATE 2: COULD. HAPPEN. TODAY.
Source: PHI/NOP trade is close. Deal is expected to include Ajinca & a protected 1st to PHI and Okafor to NOP. Could be done today.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 6, 2017
As many others have reported now, the hold up is over how valuable a #Pelicans pick would be going to Philly – based on protections.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) February 6, 2017
UPDATE 3: Pels willing to look elsewhere and/or leverage other teams against the Sixers.
New Orleans has been engaged on several fronts to land a center, including pursuit of Brooklyn's Brook Lopez, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2017
UPDATE 4: Sam Amick adds that the Sixers have engaged at least 8 teams about Okafor. And Sam Amico – different dude – says that the Sixers are looking at Jrue Holiday in the deal as well.
UPDATE 5: Basketball Insiders is reporting the pick would be a 2018 protected first. And RealGM’s Keith Smith is reporting that the deal will not be done today due to the Sixers’ desire to expand the deal.
UPDATE 6: Deal seeming to cool down for now.
