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Will the Detroit Pistons be suitors for Jahlil Okafor’s services?

By Duncan Smith

Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) scores past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) and center Andre Drummond (0) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) scores past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) and center Andre Drummond (0) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Pistons won107-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Philadelphia 76ers indicating a willingness to move young center Jahlil Okafor, does it make sense for the Detroit Pistons to try for his services?

Now that the Philadelphia 76ers have shifted priorities this past season with the firing of former president of basketball operations and general manager Sam Hinkie, the next step of the continuing process in Philly is to cash in the assets the former executive accumulated. Now that the Sixers have finally won a draft lottery and gotten the first overall pick, the organization has decided it’s time to part with some of their positional redundancy at the center position.

The best three players on the Sixers’ roster are all young centers. Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are both excellent young big men who now have some valuable NBA experience under their belt, while perhaps the best of the brood, Joel Embiid, is expected to finally be healthy for the coming 2016-17 season after missing the entirety of both of his first two seasons.

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With the three big men ready to go, the Sixers have indicated a willingness to deal one of Okafor or Noel in advance of the NBA draft on June 23rd. There are some tailor-made matches for young big men right now in the NBA, so there are likely some very comfortable landing spots for whichever is moved.

Are the Detroit Pistons such a match?

In a word, no. The Pistons are set at the center position, particularly at the top of the depth chart with Andre Drummond, and Aron Baynes is a serviceable backup whose contract will actually be delivering bang for its buck under the new dynamic of the exploding salary cap. While Okafor or Noel would both be significant upgrades over Baynes, the Pistons are strapped for depth and gutting further into the roster to improve center depth would be foolhardy at best.

A move including Tobias Harris and the Pistons’ first round draft pick, for example, might be enough to move the needle for the Sixers (and maybe not), but this team needs Tobias Harris more than it needs another center.

The Pistons will have the opportunity to address their most pressing needs this offseason, particularly in adding a point guard and power forward, but there is no clear way forward that improves the roster’s weaknesses and brings in Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.

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