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Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros and cons of trading for Jahlil Okafor

By Maxwell Ogden

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 9, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 9, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 9, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 9, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jahlil Okafor is pushing to be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers. Should the New York Knicks attempt to acquire Okafor before the 2018 NBA trade deadline?

The New York Knicks have one of the most balanced rosters in the Eastern Conference. Between 25-and-under players who are beginning to tap into their potential and grizzled veterans who are willing to lead, the Knicks are taking a methodical approach to creating a new culture.

As the Knicks search for ways to solidify the future, investing in a player who’s desperate for a change of scenery may be the next step.

For those who haven’t been following the situation in Philadelphia, Jahlil Okafor has been publicly petitioning for a trade. That may sound like a sign of bad character, but the Philadelphia 76ers have made Okafor a healthy scratch for the better part of two seasons.

With his career and reputation in danger, Okafor is fighting back against what most around the NBA have labeled as mistreatment.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the 76ers have responded by lowering their asking price for Okafor to a second-round draft pick.

"Colangelo’s asking price has steadily dropped for Okafor, from two first-round picks to a first and a solid player to where it stands now, a second-round pick, league sources said."

This is far from an open and shut case, but it would behove New York to at least explore the possibility of trading for Okafor.

Okafor was the leader of the Duke Blue Devils that won the 2015 National Championship, and was subsequently selected at No. 2 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft—two spots ahead of Kristaps Porzingis. With an opportunity to pair Okafor with Porzingis, New York should at least explore the market.

The question is: What would the pros and cons be if the New York Knicks were to actually pull the trigger on a trade for Jahlil Okafor?

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