Report: Sixers will explore trades for either Noel or Okafor

The Philadelphia 76ers have a new boss and a new vision.  After years of being told to "Trust the Process", the Sixers finally landed the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.   As the Sixers discern their upcoming pick, new GM Bryan Colangelo and Sixers brass are also discerning potential trades to go along with it.

Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN report that the trades could involve two of the Sixers young stars in Nerlins Noel or Jahlil Okafor:

The Philadelphia 76ers will explore trading Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noelin the buildup to the NBA draft on June 23, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN that the Sixers are determined to gauge the trade market for both Okafor and Noel and are increasingly likely to move at least one of them in conjunction with the draft, in which Philadelphia holds the No. 1 overall selection for the first time since selecting Allen Iverson in 1996.

The subtraction of one of the Sixers' young big men would free up space on the court for an incoming player.

The Sixers used a first round picks to draft Okafor (2015), and traded Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans for Noel.  But, with the first overall pick, the Sixers could draft who they feel to be the best overall player while making moves to balance the team.  The names most linked to the Sixers are LSU's Ben Simmons or Duke's Brandon Ingram.

 

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