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Lakers Magic Johnson Two Days To Trade For 76ers Jahlil Okafor

By Bret Stuter

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) before a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) before a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the Los Angeles Lakers place Magic Johnson at the helm two days before the NBA Trade deadline, some believe he will attempt trade for Jahlil Okafor

The ripples in the NBA come without warning.  Today, the earth shook in the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers, where the team has replaced the decision makers with Magic Johnson just two days before the trade deadline.  Ripples that may reverberate all the way to Philadelphia, and shake Jahlil Okafor from the 76ers’ roster.

On one hand, a move like that can only mean one thing – the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to deal in the next 48 hours. On the other hand, the one team that has been mysteriously silent as the NBA trade deadline approaches? The Philadelphia 76ers.  In conclusion, this is a boon to the Philadelphia 76ers.

76ers Lakers Linked

The Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers time and time again. It’s been one of the most logical pairings in NBA rumors for the past three years.

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The Lakers are loaded with back court talent. The Philadelphia 76ers are loaded with front court talent.  And there is that matter of the first round pick owed to the Philadelphia 76ers, either in 2017 or 2018.

And there’s the rub.  The Los Angeles Lakers, a proud flagship of the NBA, has resembled a team tanking to keep their first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.  Much like the intervention of the Philadelphia 76ers to insert the Colangelo family into the front office, it appears that the NBA has subtlely imposed their will upon the Lakers as well.

Magic Johnson has been unhappy with the moves of the Lakers front office for years.

He has been particularly critical of the Lakers when the team passed on center Jahlil Okafor, despite a huge need in the front court, to select D’Angelo Russell. Now Magic Johnson is in a position to rectify the matter.

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Why 76ers Optimism?

There are many reasons for Philadelphia 76ers fans to rejoice at the news. Let’s discuss the elephant in the room: Jahlil Okafor.

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    • This is fast paced, even for the NBA. The 2015 NBA Draft found Karl Anthony Towns going to the Minnesota Timberwolves, D’Angelo Russell going to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jahlil Okafor going to the Philadelphia 76ers. 18 months later, all three teams have made changes. The Timberwolves changed coaches, and both the Lakers and 76ers changed front office executives.

    The Lakers have plenty of back court help, and need front court talent. The 2017 NBA Draft, meanwhile, is loaded with back court talent.  The Philadelphia 76ers already own a Lakers first round draft pick – whether that happens in 2017 or 2018.

    What To Talk About?

    But there is still the matter of the Lakers and 76ers and that 2015 NBA Draft. Since that draft, the Lakers have failed horribly at filling the center role for the team.  Since that draft, the Philadelphia 76ers have had some success in the back court, but continue to search for significant talent.

    Is it a certainty that the Lakers and 76ers will agree to trade? Certainly not.  But it does reset the Lakers as a very high probability to engage the 76ers in trade talks.  It also places an executive who has praised Jahlil Okafor on the other end of that trade conversation.

    Nothing is certain in the NBA, particularly not this close to a trade deadline.  But the timing of the move is certain.  The ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers is unsatisfied with the team’s direction. With 48 hours left, the team has inserted Magic Johnson to deal. He won’t have much time to learn which players he should target, so he’ll need to rely upon what he already knows.

    NEXT: Indiana Pacers Pursue Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor

    He knows that Jahlil Okafor is a winner.   I believe he will follow up on that knowledge.