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Knicks Trade Rumors: High-Profile Players Surfacing On Trade Market

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lou Williams (23) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lou Williams (23) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempts to back up San Antonio Spurs center Dewayne Dedmon (3) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempts to back up San Antonio Spurs center Dewayne Dedmon (3) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers

Position: Center
Age: 21 (12/15/1995)
Experience: 2nd Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .511/.000/.612
2016-17 Season Averages: 23.0 MPG, 11.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.6 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 1.1 BPG

The worst kept secret in the NBA is that the Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to trade second-year center Jahlil Okafor. Sam Hinkie flooded the roster with centers and Bryan Colangelo appears to have determined that Okafor is the player who needs to be moved.

Though the rumors have eroded in recent days, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the 76ers are still engaged in trade talks.

"“The team is not as close to trading the second-year center as it seemed to be in recent days, sources said,” Pompey wrote on Wednesday. “The trade talks continue.”"

As Atlantic Division teams continue to grow stronger, this is a trade that the New York Knicks must keep an eye on.

Okafor was a college basketball superstar in 2014-15 and had a productive rookie season in 2016-17. His production and confidence have suffered in 2016-17, however, as he’s been thrust into a rotation with two other centers: Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.

With Embiid emerging as the perceived franchise player, Okafor has become the odd man out of the 76ers’ future rotation.

The New York Knicks already have a center for the future in Willy Hernangomez, but Okafor has star potential that will be explored by an NBA organization.

Okafor’s post game is nothing short of sensational, which includes an improving midrange game that he’s beginning to develop confidence in. He’s limited defensively, but has the physical tools to be a better version of Brook Lopez.

Whether or not it’s the Knicks that trade for Okafor, he’s the type of player who can alter the trajectory of an organization—New York’s included.

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