Ben Simmons Is A Perfect Compliment to Jahlil Okafor

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Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dribbles against Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia 76ers are searching for shooters to surround Ben Simmons, but have they overlooked the best shooter on the team, post specialist Jahlil Okafor?

I’ve been hearing the trade rumors since the night of the 2015 NBA Draft. From the moment the Philadelphia 76ers had selected Duke center Jahlil Okafor, there has been a constant whisper which has grown in volume, a whisper of his imminent trade.

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Before the 2016 NBA Draft, I bought into the rumors, and even wrote some articles about their likelihood of coming to fruition. But deep down inside, I thought there had to be another way. I countered the arguments TO trade Jahlil Okafor with some very contrarian logic: the team should consider building the team around the skillsets of Jahlil Okafor. That logic resonated with some readers, but left some anxious that I hadn’t allotted a roster spot for Joel Embiid.

Perhaps not, but despite Embiid’s recent return to health, the projection for his play to open the season is minutes restrictions and alternating games. Someone has to fill the void in his absence.

Taking it one step further, I even threw Embiid and Dario Saric into the mix, and speculated that the team could conceivably have a starting lineup of current players. If the team holds onto Jahlil Okafor for center, then you move Joel Embiid out to power forward. Saric slides in at the small forward spot and if you start a rapidly improving Robert Covington at shooting guard, you plop Ben Simmons into the point guard role. No trades, no huge salary cap outlays, three rookies, a sophomore, and a two year veteran.

The fascination with this lineup, a “tall ball” lineup, was simply talking aloud. Or so I thought.

Next: A Tall Order