As we passed along earlier today, ESPN’s Chad Ford said during a radio appearance that he believes the Sixers will gauge the trade value of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor this offseason, with the team perhaps preferring to move Okafor instead of Noel. In Ford’s view, it’s unlikely that both players will be back in Philadelphia next season.
Ford and Marc Stein have now published a full-fledged report on the subject at ESPN.com, citing league sources who say the 76ers will explore trading Noel or Okafor during the lead-up to next month’s draft. While the report reiterates that Okafor is more likely than Noel to be moved, Ford and Stein stress that Philadelphia is considering a wide range of possibilities. In a tweet, Ford adds that the Sixers are looking into getting a top-six pick back for Okafor, since they’re really hoping to land a young guard.
As we wait to see how serious Philadelphia is about trading one of their top picks from the last two years, let’s check in on a few other draft rumors and updates…
- As the Sixers explore trade possibilities with their previous top picks, they’re also weighing which player to select first overall this year. According to Ford (Twitter link), Ben Simmons is the current frontrunner over Brandon Ingram. Ford places the odds of a Simmons pick for Philadelphia at 60-40.
- The Celtics, Kings, Bucks, and Jazz appear to be the lottery teams most likely to trade their picks, tweets Ford.
- Along with Oklahoma’s Isaiah Cousins, whose scheduled workout with Phoenix was previously reported, five prospects are working out for the Suns today, according to the team (Twitter link). Those players are Wade Baldwin (Vanderbilt), DeAndre’ Bembry (St. Joseph’s), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Dorian Finney-Smith (Florida), and James Webb III (Boise State).
- The Grizzlies have a workout scheduled on Tuesday, May 31st for the following six players, per a press release from the team: Eli Carter (Boston College), Alex Hamilton (Louisiana Tech), A.J. Hammons (Purdue), Taurean Prince (Baylor), Mike Tobey (Virginia), and Troy Williams (Indiana).
It says Noah instead of Noel in the first paragraph.
Thanks, it’s been fixed. Hopefully that’s the last time I do that this summer while going back and forth between writing about Joakim and Nerlens.
Ford places the odds of a Simmons pick for Philadelphia at 60-40
Ford has been in the bag for Simmons all season long (this year and last).
SMH, I still don’t see what some see in Simmons.
I don’t see him as all that special, yet he thinks he is and so does Ford.
SMH
I am sticking by Ingram and I hope the Sixers make a trade and pick up Dunn as well.
I could see something where supposing Dunn, Murray, or Hield are sitting there at 8th overall:
Celtics Trade their 16th and 23rd to the Kings
Kings Trade 8th to the Sixers
Sixers Trade Nerlens Noel to Celtics and a future 2nd (or 2 of them) to the Kings?
I don’t believe any other plays need to be involved to make it work financially. But Sixers could try to land Ben McLemore in the deal as well by including both of their 1st round picks. Kings could really take some shots and fill some holes at that point.
Reference: 2013 #9 traded for #14 and #21