The Sixer Sense
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Jahlil Okafor Tomorrow Trade Still Not Happening. 5 Reasons Bryan Colangelo Taking His Time.

By Bret Stuter

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Reason I: The First Move Defines His Legacy

First impressions, first steps, first cuts, first sentence. We live in a world defined by firsts.  First kisses are remembered for life.  First love. Baby’s first shoes.

First in western society are memorialized, and define all that comes after.

The first trade of Bryan Colangelo’s tenure will define how history views him. The move of Jerami Grant never really fit into this category. You see, Grant was traded to support the power forward position.  Ben Simmons was unable to join the team, and Richaun Holmes was diverted to center to cover minutes.  Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor were on restrictions, and Nerlens Noel had surgery.

And so, the team traded with Oklahoma City for Ersan Ilyasova and a strongly protected first round pick in 2020.  In the end, Jerami Grant is a strong prospect who was traded for a veteran at a position of need and a pick.

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Not Apples To Apples

But any trade of Jahlil Okafor is a different food group.  Jahlil Okafor was selected with the first pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, proved he could score on a poorly constructed roster at the age of 19, and has entered his second NBA season. He is incredibly potent offensively, and the fact remains that he was not expected to contribute defensively to the team so far.

Fans are watching.  Fans who watched the Philadelphia 76ers convert players into draft picks over and over are watching.   Ask for too much, and no deal is made.  Accept too little and history is written in permanent ink.  If Bryan Colangelo is going to err on his first deal, it will to overvalue his center, Jahlil Okafor.