Jahil Okafor Trade Could Hinge on Bulls' Pursuit of Another 1st-round Pick

Players or picks? If you're the Sixers, which makes more sense for Jahlil Okafor? (Both is indeed an option.)

Basketball Insiders' Michael Scotto reported Monday afternoon that the Chicago Bulls are shopping either Robin Lopez or Doug McDermott for a first-round pick. 

That's meaningful to the Sixers because the Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans have been the most cited teams in Okafor trade rumors.

Chicago could be attempting to land another first-round pick to sweeten an offer for Okafor, especially if Lopez, a center, is the player moved.

The Bulls' roster doesn't offer much of intrigue. McDermott can shoot, Denzel Valentine and Nikola Mirotic are interesting pieces, but they're not difference-making talents who get the juices flowing.

A first-round pick, though, or a package that includes a pick now and in the future, could get Bryan Colangelo to pull the trigger.

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Chicago currently owns two 2017 first-round picks: their own and Sacramento's top-10 protected pick. If the season ended today, the Kings would pick 10th (thus keeping it) and the Bulls would pick 16th.

It would make sense if the Sixers want to choose their own return for Okafor, which they could do with a draft pick but not with someone like McDermott. 

Is McDermott even really an upgrade? The Sixers' second unit already has Nik Stauskas/Gerald Henderson at the two and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot at three. They also sometimes play Ersan Ilyasova and Dario Saric together. McDermott would fit this roster better than Okafor does just because he offers the skill of shooting, but the Sixers may find an even better fit in the form of a first-round pick in the 15 to 20 range.

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