Examining Likely Suitors and Trade Scenarios for Jahlil Okafor

The Sixers held Jahlil Okafor out of Saturday night's win over the Heat (see story).

Okafor was not in the locker room postgame and while a trade may not be imminent, it seems like the former No. 3 overall pick is on his way out.

With that in mind, we look at the teams Okafor has been linked to and what those possible trade partners have to offer.

New Orleans Pelicans
A trade between these two teams looked like it might happen earlier this week. Ultimately it didn't, but the talks are obviously still alive. One rumored deal had the Sixers sending Okafor to the Big Easy for a protected 2018 first-round pick and the contract of either Omer Asik or Alexis Ajinca. There were also rumors swirling that the Sixers wanted to bring back guard Jrue Holiday, the player whose departure started The Process.

Okafor's fit
The Pelicans best lineup has featured their star, Anthony Davis, at the five. With that said, Davis is more than capable of sliding to the four while Okafor mans the middle. Offensively, it would work well for both players. Okafor would hardly ever see a double team and Davis would have some of the scoring load taken off him. Defensively, Davis could make up for Okafor's deficiencies. Davis is an outstanding rim protector and rebounder.

Outlook
The Pelicans seem the most likely destination for Okafor. It looks like both GMs are waiting for the other to blink. The protection for the pick will depend on which contract Bryan Colangelo is willing to eat: The bad contract of Ajinca or the horrendous contract of Asik. Knowing how deep this draft class is, the Pelicans would be wise to keep their 2017 pick.

New Orleans doesn't seem interested in dealing Holiday. He'll be a free agent this offseason, but has played well recently with Davis. He appears to be a possible long-term fit in New Orleans.

Chicago Bulls
When rumors of a possible Okafor trade to the Bulls first surfaced, we took a look at the possibilities. And there wasn't much. Could the Bulls blow it up and take Okafor plus multiple picks for star wing Jimmy Butler? Would the Bulls' first-round pick this year be enough to get it done? What about a player like Doug McDermott or Denzel Valentine?

Okafor's fit
I have no clue what the Bulls are doing. They signed veteran guards Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo to play with Butler. That's resulted in being the seventh seed in the East. Okafor would give them a post scoring threat which could take the burden off Butler and Wade. The Chicago native could also be a legitimate piece for the Bulls' future.

Outlook
Okafor's appeal is that he can help the Bulls now and in the future. The Bulls' first round-pick, which would be in the late teens as of right now, wouldn't be enough. Chicago would also have to give up someone like McDermott or Valentine just to get the Sixers' attention.  

As for a trade for Butler... well I guess it can't hurt to dream, Sixers fans.

Other teams rumored
Both Portland and Denver were listed as possible landing spots for Okafor. Both teams reportedly then made a swap of their own big men (see story). The Blazers sent Mason Plumlee and a second-round pick to the Nuggets for Jusuf Nurkic and a first-round pick.

What the trade means
It's hard to see Denver as a destination for Okafor now. They have an extremely talented young four in Nikola Jokic. Plumlee's game is likely a better fit for Jokic thank Okafor's, and now that the Nuggets have surrendered a first-round pick (from Memphis), it seems unlikely they'd give up their own first-round pick in a deal for Okafor.

As for Portland, I wouldn't count them out just yet. They get Nurkic, who is a talented, but flawed big who they're essentially taking a flyer on. They're also now armed with an extra first-round pick. Can they flip a pick to the Sixers for Okafor? Maybe.

Perhaps a rotation of Okafor and Nurkic could work. It would certainly take the pressure off the teams guards and give them desperately needed depth down low. They both have a low price tag. Portland could look at Okafor's and Nurkic's acquisitions as a tryout to see which big is the better fit with Damian Lilliard and C.J. McCollum.

As for a trade for McCollum... who am I to crush your dreams?