The Sixer Sense
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Should Chicago Boston Philadelphia 76ers Try 3 Team NBA Trade

By Bret Stuter

Dec 3, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) reacts against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 107-106. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) reacts against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 107-106. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers could emerge from 2017 NBA Draft as much more competitive teams. How would that 3 team NBA Trade play out?

The Philadelphia 76ers and University of Washington Huskies point guard Markelle Fultz are the perfect fit.  The only problem?  The Boston Celtics , and not the Philadelphia 76ers, own the rights to the top pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.   Boston fans continue to implore the team not to consider trading that pick, regardless of the value. But doing so is a clear concession by the team that they never hope to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the next several years.

That will not sit well with Danny Ainge. He has been called out before for getting the team close but home early in the playoffs.  From what we have seen in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics are not close to challenging the Cleveland Cavaliers. And that is being kind.

Boston Can Challenge Cleveland.

But Boston could challenge the Cavaliers with a few top players.  They are pursuing Gordan Hayward from the Utah Jazz. But Hayward will only move to the team that can knock off the Cavaliers. So that will likely fall through if the Celtics cling to that first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft..

However, the Chicago Bulls have a player in Jimmy Butler who could sway Hayward’s decision.  The Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls have been linked in NBA Rumors before. In fact, they were linked at the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline, but the Celtics offer came up short.  One pick is not enough to pry Jimmy Butler from the Bulls.

Now those same Chicago Bulls were front-runners for the Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor at last years trade deadline. That deal did not go through either. But the teams can revisit that scenario.

Three Way Trade

In the end, the Chicago Bulls get the equivalent of two first round picks, plus the 39th pick of the NBA Draft.  They can immediately convert that pick into Jimmy Butler’s replacement, get a new front court center who can score and has two years left on his contract, plus land a hidden gem early in round two.

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The Celtics get their help for Isaiah Thomas, taking both the scoring and defensive pressure off him.  And of course, the Philadelphia 76ers get the first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft without forfeiting most of the team’s assets.

WHY THIS DEAL WON’T WORK?

This trade will fail if either of two things happen.  If the Boston Celtics truly cling to their first round pick, then nothing happens.  Seriously. Nothing.  If the Boston Celtics feel that the 2017 NBA Draft first pick exceeds Jimmy Butler, then that is their choice.

And the window will close on that team until Markelle Fultz emerges in four or five years.

The other risk is the valuation that the Chicago Bulls have for Jahlil Okafor.  Yes, I’ve already heard from many fans that Okafor is not worth much. Hey, you’re wrong. We all are sometimes. He is not a good fit for the Philadelphia 76ers, but he does have a good fit for some teams.

There is also the matter of balancing this trade. I would expect that the teams will navigate the right salaries to fall within the NBA trade guidelines. If they fail to reach agreement on balancing the deal, it could fall through as well.

Question

Right now,  that is a question.  Yet, the story was hot enough to percolate up to the ears of ESPN and Bleacher Report.  And so, now that the Bulls have been ushered out once more from the NBA Playoffs, do they want to stand on their roster? They did at the trade deadline.

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    • That was then and this is now.   Now the Chicago Bulls must face the fact that they are not a playoff winning team. Entering this trade will give the Bulls a clean start, move to a slower paced team, and realign around the scoring offense of Okafor.

    WHY THIS DEAL WILL WORK

    The value of the pieces to the receiving team is greater than the originating team.  Jimmy Butler on the Boston Celtics makes that team an immediate front runner for Gordan Hayward.  That also allows the team to deal pieces who do not fit the new team.

    The Chicago Bulls have not soured on Jahlil Okafor. If he passes a physical, they are very optimistic that he has the offensive attributes of a center worth building around. Add the third pick in this NBA Draft, they can pick another great prospect who can join Okafor as a new core for the future.

    And the Philadelphia 76ers land the player who has enamoured the fan base.    As the Chicago Bulls blog said, if the Bulls get Jah, who gets Jimmy Buckets. Boston will.

    Next: Philadelphia 76ers Depth Chart Reveals Playoff Caliber Team

    Everyone walks away happy. In the end, that is the type of NBA Trade worth pursuing.