Honorable mentions
Some teams are possibilities, but were too unlikely as far as destinations for Jahlil for me to consider them in the top five of this list.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks could be losing Zaza Pachulia to free agency and JaVale McGee isn’t exactly the most productive center out there. There’s definitely a need for a center, and it just seems like Okafor could fit well with Dallas. They just don’t have much to offer back to the Sixers.
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Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers passed on Jahlil Okafor in last year’s draft, but after his production this season, perhaps they’re doing a double-take. The Roy Hibbert era didn’t work at all in LA, so perhaps the Lakers are open to a younger center at this point. I’m not sure the Lakers and Sixers could work anything out without D’Angelo Russell going to Philly, and I don’t believe the Lakers want to do that.
It is possible that the Sixers could offer the protected 2017 Lakers pick back to Los Angeles and take their second overall pick from this season, but it does seem like a bit of a stretch. It would definitely be a huge deal if the Sixers could get the top pick and the second pick.
Charlotte Hornets
Al Jefferson is a free agent (and he’s nearing the end of his career), and the Charlotte Hornets run Frank Kaminsky and Cody Zeller at the center, who are pretty much the same exact person. The only way I see this getting done is if the Hornets can find a third team who wants to take either Zeller or Kaminsky, and also if the Sixers can get Nicolas Batum in a sign-and-trade from the Hornets in the process.
Next: Chicago Bulls