In the course of their multi-year rebuild, the Philadelphia 76ers have taken a best-player-available approach to the NBA draft, a tactic that's left them with a glut of young big-man projects and not much else.
The Sixers are reportedly shopping both Jahlil Okafor (last year's No. 3 pick) and Nerlens Noel (their 2013 No. 6 pick), but would prefer to trade Okafor, sources tell Keith Pompey of Philly.com. Pompey qualifies that by reporting that the team will ultimately trade whichever player brings the better return.
With the 2016 draft fast approaching, and the Sixers virtually assured of drafting a forward - be it Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram - with the No. 1 overall pick, it seems clear that someone needs to go. Between Okafor, Noel, their No. 3 and No. 12 picks from 2014 (Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, neither of whom has played an NBA minute yet), and one of Simmons or Ingram, the Sixers have a projected frontcourt that's overstuffed, misfit, and impossible to develop together.
Okafor led the Sixers in scoring last season, and demonstrated a highly refined post game for a teenage rookie. But he also showed glaring shortcomings as a defender and rebounder, was plagued by off-court issues, and saw his season cut short by a torn right meniscus that required surgery.
Noel has an extra season under his belt, giving the Sixers a larger sample to work with, and the consensus appears to be that he represents the more promising long-term fit.
