Philadelphia 76ers: 5 Things We Learned During NBA Draft

Nerlens is being shopped

One thing that came increasingly apparent to me last night was that the Sixers are looking to trade a big man, but that big man may not be who the general crowd thinks it will be or wants it to be. Most of the Sixers franchise wants Okafor to be traded away, pointing to his less-than-great defense and his high trade value.

More from Draft

• Philadelphia 76ers Ten Biggest Mistakes of the Last Ten Years
• The Sixers sign four undrafted players after the NBA Draft
• Players the Sixers should target in undrafted free agency
• How to Watch the 2023 NBA Draft as a Sixers Fan
• 2023 NBA Mock Draft: 5 wing prospects 76ers could target

What I think we’re seeing happen is the contradictory mindset that some Sixers fans carry themselves with. They want to trade Okafor because of his “high trade value,” but then at the same point will slam each and every one of his minor flaws. You can’t have it both ways, and teams around the league are choosing to see his flaws, not his high trade value.

Instead, Nerlens Noel is the more attractive trade option for other teams. With the importance of a rim protector on many of the teams competing for a championship this season, rim protecting centers are in season. And the Sixers, having one of the best ones in the league in Noel, are a great beneficiary of that fad.

Every single trade report we’ve seen that explicitly mentions players has been surrounding Noel. I have yet to see one trade report that singles out Okafor. I think we’re much more likely to see Noel moved than we are Okafor.

Next: Offseason has begun, position-less team coming?