How the Chicago Bulls can trade for Jahlil Okafor

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Dec 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) sits on the bench during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Bulls 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Matching Black Sheep

Let’s start with a great deal for the Bulls. It probably isn’t anywhere near what the Sixers want, but that’s okay. These are just options, and none of them probably happen.

Philadelphia has a Jahlil Okafor problem. He did very dumb things in Boston as a rookie, you’ll have that with young men from time to time. He’s also found himself at the bottom of the pecking order behind Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.

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Since December 30th, Okafor has 11 DNPs and one game not with the team. The Sixers clearly know that the team is now to trade Jahlil, playing him in four of the last five. Prior to that stretch, they had only played him in four games over the course of a full month.

For Chicago, Rajon Rondo is the odd man out. He isn’t buried by the depth chart, but rather by the two stars of the team – Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. After some very public shade throwing, it’s become even more unrealistic that Rondo sees out the year with the Bulls.

Okafor has plenty of flaws and lots of room for growth. As a center, he raises a lot of questions for the Bulls, but trading him for Rondo would eliminate one major question surrounding the team.

There isn’t much of a sales pitch on either side. Chicago could use any young, promising players they can get their hands on, but don’t have a need at center. The 76ers don’t need Okafor and could use a gifted passer with championship experience to help groom the prodigious passing of Ben Simmons, but wouldn’t want to be on the hook for the guaranteed money owed to Rondo next year.

The only way this deal ever comes close to reality, the Bulls have to bite the bullet and toss in picks. I wouldn’t put it past them, but it can’t be considered a good idea to part with upcoming first-round picks in exchange for a player who doesn’t look like much more than worse version of Lopez.

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