NBA Trade Rumors: The Chicago Bulls might be the favorites to land Jahlil Okafor at the NBA Trade Deadline
Hours away from the NBA Trade Deadline, the latest speculation centers around the Chicago Bulls appearing to emerge as the frontrunners to land Jahlil Okafor.
In fact, ESPN’s Marc Stein notes that Okafor’s preferred destination is actually Chicago (his hometown), too.
"[via ESPN]The Sixers will make the best deal they can find, of course, but word is Jahlil Okafor’s preferred destination on Deadline Day is Chicago."
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Due to the evolution of Joel Embiid (And Yes, I believe in the Process), Okafor’s minutes slipped from 30 (last season) to around 23.3 minutes in his sophomore season. And that probably explains the dip in production, too. Okafor went from averaging nearly 18 points and seven rebounds per game last season to 11.4 points and 4.8 boards this year.
Okafor has also been linked to the Indiana Pacers, who are desperate to find Paul George some help as concerns raise about his impending free agency in two years.
Still, Chicago likely remains the best option for Okafor. Despite the drama flowing throughout the locker room in Chicago, the Bulls could provide Okafor with a fresh start. And sitting in the 7th seed of the East, he could help with a late-season playoff push.
With Jimmy Butler’s future up in the air, even if he remains in Chicago beyond the trade deadline, Chicago could use another cornerstone to build around. Plus, Okafor is a scoring machine. If Chicago were to trade Taj Gibson and/or Nikola Mirotic, the Bulls will need to fill those voids. Okafor would fit.
All in all, representing your hometown captivates players. Aside from LeBron, Dwyane Wade returned to Chicago and Dwight Howard returned to Atlanta. In addition, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Paul George could return to his hometown Lakers in 2018.
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Maybe something about being close to family and friends, especially when times get tough, intrigues players. Jahlil Okafor to the Chicago Bulls makes too much sense.