NBA Rumors: Okafor, Butler Still on Market, Trade Possible?

The Philadelphia 76ers still have room for a true starting point guard, and NBA rumors indicate could make a huge splash by trading Okafor for Jimmy Butler.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in an interesting place at the moment. Given that coming into this year’s offseason, their biggest need was the point guard position, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen them bring in three veteran guards to possibly run the point, or work as rotation players in the backcourt.

First up was Jerryd Bayless, then Sergio Rodriquez, and most recently was Gerald Henderson.

Bayless and Rodriguez could both prove to be decent singings, but I just don’t feel as if either is suited to start with the team. I think Bryan Colangelo is putting the cart before the horse in a way, signing players who may be backups before he gets his starter.

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That starter could potentially be Jimmy Butler, currently of the Chicago Bulls, if the Sixers can convince them to do a deal.

The Bulls have had one heck of an offseason, trading former face of the franchise Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks and also easily parting ways with Joakim Noah.

As I’ve written before, it makes sense that the two teams could link up and be trade partners. The Bulls now have a hole in the center slot with Noah gone, and Jahlil Okafor of the Sixers could fill it.

At the same time, Nikola Mirotic, the team’s forward, has a solid enough 3-point ability that he could work well along Okafor. The Bulls could use the Chicago-rased Okafor to their advantage in many ways.

The Bulls have Jimmy Butler to give up. With the team pretty much forfeiting any trace of the Derrick Rose era, they don’t seem to be gripping too tightly onto Butler. In fact, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, he could be readily available.

"Jimmy Butler and Jahlil Okafor are said to be still available, but getting them now won’t be as easy as on draft night when Chicago and Philadelphia, respectively, both coveted the No. 3 overall pick so they could take Providence’s Kris Dunn."

Although Bulpett wrote this in the context of the Celtics going after either of these players for their own, it does bring up a possibility of Butler for Okafor. Obviously the Bulls don’t do this deal on its own, and the Sixers would have to pitch in some future draft picks and/or players, but I think it’s a real possibility.

The Sixers have plenty of players to send to the Bulls, and draft picks that they can use to help rebuild in the future. Okafor sweetens the deal a ton, too, and the Bulls could use the hometown narrative with Okafor to help get the fans behind the move in Chicago.

Next: Could the Sixers Trade for Westbrook?

No matter what happens, the Sixers need to find a solid, true starting point guard, and soon, otherwise the free agency moves may end up being fruitless.

NBA Rumors: Okafor, Jimmy Butler Still on Market, Trade Possible?

By Josh Wilson | Jul 5, 2016

The Philadelphia 76ers still have room for a true starting point guard, and NBA rumors indicate could make a huge splash by trading Okafor for Jimmy Butler.

More from The Sixer Sense