The Sixer Sense
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5 Landing Destinations For Jahlil Okafor

By Josh Wilson

Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) holds the ball away from Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) holds the ball away from Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Bulls mascot Benny the Bull leaps prior to the first quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Bulls mascot Benny the Bull leaps prior to the first quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls could be a landing spot for Jahlil Okafor. Given that Jahlil was raised in Chicago, it would be a nice homecoming story, but I don’t believe that will be a driving factor of this possible scenario.

Over the past two seasons, the Bulls have had a bit of an identity crisis. Failing to make the playoffs this season in their first year without head coach Tom Thibodeau, the team had a dismal year. It’s not closing any better, as reports are coming out that longtime Bull Joakim Noah will not seek another contract with the team.

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    • On top of all of that, there is the present narrative that Derrick Rose just isn’t what he used to be, and will never be able to overcome what his injuries have made him. It looks like the Bulls need a new face for fans to get excited about, and who better to do that than a hometown kid in Jahlil?

    Pau Gasol‘s career seems to be coming to an end, and with Joakim out, there is a void in the center position. Gasol’s contract is a player option for this upcoming season, so given that he returns to the team, it could be a good idea to have Jah learn alongside him for a season before he takes over the starting job completely. A frontcourt with Jah and Nikola Mirotic could be great as well, a Mirotic is taking enough shots beyond the 3-point line to convince people there wouldn’t be spacing issues with Okafor and Mirotic like there is with Okafor and Noel.

    Mirotic nailed 49 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, and took 56.8 percent of his total shots from beyond the arc.

    The Sixers could sneak out of this trade with Jimmy Butler, if they play their cards right. They would likely also have to offer in something else, but with three first-round draft picks this year and several in the future, they have a lot they can offer to the Bulls, who look like they could possibly be in the rebuilding stage very soon.

    If the Bulls were to open shop for a trade like this, there’s no doubt that a rebuild mode would come in the following offseason.

    Butler has been coveted by Sixers fans all season. Fans want the team to trade for a star, and Butler seems like he could be the guy. On contract until 2020, Butler averaged 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season.

    This is an unlikely deal to be completed, it seems, but if the Sixers front office desperately wants a star, they could at least give the Bulls a call about Jahlil for Butler.

    Next: Milwaukee Bucks