NBA Trade Rumors: Jahlil Okafor Leaving 76ers to Join Knicks?

By Carlo Monzon
Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor during the 2015 NBA Summer League Wikimedia Commons/Ed

Due to a surplus in their big men, the Philadelphia 76ers could end up trading away one of its centers. According to new rumors, the team could send Jahlil Okafor to the New York Knicks.

Last week, 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo admitted that the team has too any centers. Aside from Okafor, they currently have Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Dario Saric. Although these are all talented players, Colangelo said that the surplus has created an unbalance within the team.

"There's no question you can look at our roster and say we have some unbalance," he said according to Real GM. "We're top heavy. We have some good talent here."

"We have to figure out what we're going to do with everybody," he added. "When you look at the calls coming in, quite frankly, everyone's trying to poach a big man from us."

Colangelo, however, did not go into detail regarding which teams have approached the 76ers for a possible trade. But as noted by Sportsrageous, one of these could be the Knicks.

By engaging in a trade with the 76ers for Okafor, the Knicks could offer Courtney Lee, Kylee O'Quinn and possibly a first round pick in exchange. Getting Lee would be good for Philadelphia since given the number of centers they have, having a reliable shooting guard to control the game from below would balance out the team's overall performance.

For Okafor, on the other hand, going to the Knicks will also help the team a lot because the center can offer a lot of support for New York's Kristaps Prozingis and Joakim Noah. With these three, the Knicks will be able to create a strong inside presence.

However, Colangelo knows the real value of Okafor, which is probably why he wouldn't engage in trade talks for the athlete.

"We're not going to make a bad deal just to make a deal," he said. "I think we can be a better basketball team if we can distribute that talent better. Maybe take one of those assets and address other needs on the roster."

"I think right now it's best to say we like all of them, we want to see if we can make the most out of each of them," he added.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories