This would be a headline-worthy trade.
As Jahlil Okafor-to-New Orleans rumors circulated on Monday, two questions emerged for Sixers fans:
-Why do the Pelicans want Okafor, a defensively-challenged center who can’t stay on the floor in Philadelphia?
-What is the return for a player that was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft?
At first glance, reports suggested Philadelphia seeking a future first-round pick back for Okafor.
Now? Thinks have been turned up a notch. According to NBA insider Sam Amico, agents around the league are hearing that the Sixers are seeking point guard Jrue Holiday back in an Okafor return. Yes, the former Sixers point guard that was dealt away in 2013 by Sam Hinkie to jumpstart “The Process” in Philadelphia.
Several NBA agents tell me they hear Sixers seek Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday as part of package in return for Jahlil Okafor, as reported by Yahoo
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) February 6, 2017
A few weeks ago, a Holiday return to Philadelphia was speculated about–but those thoughts were more about signing as a free agent after the 2016-17 NBA season.
Okafor to Bulls?
If the Sixers can swap Okafor-for-Holiday now, the team would have a chance to see (assuming No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons gets healthy and plays at some point this season) what a Simmons-Holiday back court pairing looks like before investing $15-20M per season in a Holiday reunion this summer.
Heading into play on Feb. 7, Holiday is averaging 16.0 points, 7.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game for New Orleans.
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
