The Los Angeles Lakers have a new man in charge, as the team announced Tuesday that Magic Johnson would be taking over as President of Basketball Operations.
Could the Sixers benefit from the change?
With Johnson now in charge, and the NBA trade deadline just two days away, it is very likely Johnson will be trying to put his own stamp on the team.
Which is why this tweet on Sixers’ Jahlil Okafor, from 2015 prior to the NBA Draft, could be a sign of things to come:
I love Okafor because he’s won a state championship in HS, NCAA Title at Duke and he can bring that championship pedigree to the Lakers.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 10, 2015
The Lakers didn’t take Okafor that year, instead electing to take Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Russell is averaging 13.5 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds for the Lakers in just over one-and-a-half seasons with the team.
Okafor to Pacers?
It is unclear if the Lakers would be willing to trade Russell, but it shouldn’t be completely ruled out with Johnson now in charge.
Okafor is averaging 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks this season in 23 minutes a game.
Sixers should trade Jahlil Okafor before NBA trade deadine
The Sixers have been trying to trade Okafor for weeks, as they have three centers on the roster — Okafor, Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel — but can’t play them all.
After being sent home for a few days due to a trade the Sixers felt was close to being complete, the team had to ask Okafor to come back after the trade fell through.
So far Okafor has been linked to the Portland Trailblazers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.
Now, with Johnson in charge, it would not be surprising to see Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo place a call to Los Angeles.
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Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.
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