The Sixer Sense
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Are Nerlens Noel And Joel Embiid Compatible?

By Bret Stuter

Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Joel Embiid (right) share a laugh during warm ups before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Dealing’s done…

The rumor mills are heating up for the potential trade of center Jahlil Okafor. The latest to wade into the discussion is NBA insider Chad Ford:

"“I think that there’s a very high likelihood, that whether it’s to move up in the draft or use them to grab a free agent in a sign and trade or just to a trade, that you will not see the Nerlens Noel-Jahlil Okafor pairing at the start of next season. I think that they’ll gauge the interest of both players. I think that there might be a slight preference for Noel, to keep him around with the Sixers, and I think you might be right, there might be a slight, better value for Okafor out on the market, but I think everyone agrees that that combination of those two players doesn’t necessarily work. The Sixers needs to pick up assets, especially if they’re gonna go ahead and do a Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram with the first pick in the draft. Then they’re gonna need those assets to start to fill out their backcourt, because the 24th pick and [the 26th pick], you’re not finding starters. I’m not even sure that you’re necessarily finding rotation players at that back end of the draft that are gonna make big impact, so they’re gonna have to do that via free agency or via trade, and I think either Okafor or Noel — I don’t think they’ll trade both — but one of those two is probably their best trade chip. If I was Philadelphia, it (trading Jahlil Okafor for the third pick of the 2016 NBA draft currently held by the Boston Celtics) would be done tomorrow. I don’t know if Boston would do it, but for Philadelphia, 100 percent. That would allow them to actually I think bring in another guard, an elite guard, whether that’s Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray, and suddenly now you’ve got a very, very bright future. I think that’s an easy call for the Sixers if Boston would do it. – Chard Ford as interviewed by 97.3 ESPN"

While there continues to be hope that the Philadelphia 76ers can exploit their very positive salary cap position into signing impact free agents, the reality is that is less likely to happen. Impact players do not only seek the most money, but they assess their prospective team’s likelihood of ending up in the playoff.  In most cases, that will rule out the Philadelphia 76ers.

And so, the alternative to bring veterans onto the team would involve trades.   Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are loaded with youth and potential.  The team also has an abundance of NBA draft picks for the foreseeable future.  But trades involve assets, and the obvious asset for the trade block is center Jahlil Okafor.

Next: More The Merrier