Chicago Bulls Blurbs: Bulls have inquired about Sixers big man Jahlil Okafor
Welcome to another edition of Chicago Bulls Blurbs. For this piece, we’ve included articles all across the web with most having to surround Thursday night’s late report that the Bulls are interested in Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor.
On Thursday night, Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Bulls insider Vincent Goodwill reported that the Chicago Bulls were interested in acquiring Jahlil Okafor from the Philadelphia 76ers before the Feb. 23 trade deadline.
Okafor, a Chicago native, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft behind Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves) and D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers), but appears to be the odd man out in the crowded Philadelphia front court situation.
Here’s a chunk from Goodwill’s report on Thursday:
"So far, there’s more interest on the Bulls’ side than the 76ers’ side, according to sources, but the Bulls are interested in Okafor’s services. Because salaries have to match and Okafor is on a rookie-scale deal, one wonders how it can work if the 76ers aren’t enamored with some of the Bulls’ young players who’ve yet to fully blossom. The Bulls could conceivably open up talks to a third team if need be, considering it isn’t likely they’d want to part with any future first-round picks as they’re still deciding how they are to proceed with franchise direction in the next couple seasons."
(You can read the full report here.)
With that being said, here’s some of the best on the Bulls across the internet, and yeah … there’s some Jahlil Okafor conversations being had.
OTHER BULLS STORIES: A step-by-step guide on how to tank if you’re the Chicago Bulls this season
Bulls interested in Jahlil Okafor? Why a trade makes no sense for beleaguered franchise – (@hungarianjordan)
When I say you should be reading The Athletic Chicago everyday, you should be reading their material everyday. Stephen is one of my personal favorites when it comes to anything Bulls. Whether it’s X’s and O’s, analysis, opinions, not many cover the Bulls better than he does.
He argues that trading for Okafor makes absolute no sense for the Bulls, and to be honest, he’s exactly right. It wouldn’t make sense. But, let him go into detail as to why it doesn’t.
Chicago Bulls Interested in Jahlil Okafor – (@xvanwilderx)
Our own Daniel Coughlin took a stab at explaining why Okafor wouldn’t make sense for the Bulls as well. He looks at what a trade would do for the Bulls, along with trying to figure out what the Bulls would even give up to trade for the former No. 3 overall pick. (He also put up this piece on Friday about the current hot streak from the Bulls really not mattering that much.)
Bulls interested in Jahlil Okafor, per report – (@Bulls_Jay)
Of course our friends at SB Nation‘s Blog a Bull addressed the Okafor report. Jason Patt, who is also the managing editor at FanRag Sports’ NBA page, took to explaining why Okafor just doesn’t fit in Chicago, despite his youth, potential and actually being from Chicago. (Also, this is worth checking out because like Stephen, there’s a tweet you just have to see in there.)
Switching gears up a bit to…
The Bulls might have a mole on their coaching staff – (@MikePradaSBN)
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported it. Richard “Rip” Hamilton attempted to confirm it. Jimmy Butler mentioned it.
The Bulls apparently have a mole that leaks issues and statements to the front office, and his name is Randy Brown. (Look, I know it sounds weird, but just read it.)
Next: Bulls vs. Rockets: Previewing James Harden vs. Jimmy Butler
Evaluating the Denzel Valentine Pick Through 50 Games – (@EasyEis)
I personally enjoyed this piece on Denzel Valentine from George Eisner at Blog a Bull. He breaks down what the start of Valentine’s career has looked like in the early going. It hasn’t been that great. (He also has a second part of this piece coming soon, so be aware of that as well.)