The Sixer Sense
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NBA Rumors: Will 76ers Pursue Suns’ Bledsoe or Knight

By Bret Stuter

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) drives against Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards won 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) drives against Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards won 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Phoenis Suns Can Jumpstart Rebuild now

What the Phoenix Suns expect in compensation to move either player is truly a gauge of their commitment for doing so.   Right now, they are in an ideal position to discuss a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.  With a back court solidified with Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker, and with a front court reinforced with the likes of Dragan Bender and Marquisse Chriss, the Suns are in position to move forward.

They just need a center.  In the 2015-2016 season, the Phoenix Suns were 20th in the league at points in the paint per www.teamrankings.com.

Ideally, that center is Jahlil Okafor.  With Okafor playing back to the post, the Suns could use Chriss as the stretch four, and Bender in a small forward role.  At the moment, league sources suggest that the easier of the two guards to pry away from the Suns would be Eric Bledsoe.

In pre-draft rumor discussions, the consensus at www.inquisitr.com suggested it would take both Eric Bledsoe and draft considerations to obtain Okafor.  Now that the Phoenix Suns have landed Chriss, Bender, and Ulis in the 2016 draft, the value of placing Okafor onto the basketball court alongside the other new faces would be a huge value going forward.

In short, the Suns could truly jump start their own rebuild by engaging the post offense of Okafor in their lineup of young talented stars.

Analyzing this potential trade will not work with conventional assessment.  Okafor did not play even one full season, and neither Bledsoe nor Knight can be counted on to play a full healthy season at this point. So the alternative must be used, what value can Jahlil Okafor bring with scoring 20 plus points in the paint to a Phoenix Suns loading up with Bender, Chriss, Ulis, Booker and Knight?

Next: Grading Sixer Sense Mock 2016 NBA Draft Board

That’s a formidable line-up for the Suns, and one which Phoenix should be willing to pay a premium price to realize.  Greatness sometimes requires high risk.  If the Phoenix Suns toss a 2017 first round pick and Eric Bledsoe at the Philadelphia 76ers, both teams walk away much improved.  It’s a long off-season.  Let’s see if the rumors play out.