The Philadelphia 76ers will find themselves in an unusual predicament in the offseason as they stand to probably end up with the top pick for the 2016 NBA Draft unless the NBA lottery results otherwise.

Jahlil Okafor was the one the Sixers were lucky to get last season but seeing his limited defensive ability, the rookie needs more fine-tuning. That plus the off-court ruckus he has been involved in has overshadowed his maiden year and could likely be another external factor.

All Eyes on Embiid

Okafor’s future will largely depend on other things. One is the state of Joel Embiid who has yet to play a single official NBA game.

The 22-year-old Cameroonian was the Sixers pick (third overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft but foot problems have grounded the seven-footer from showing what he is truly capable of.

All that could be in the clear this coming season. It does however also mean that Philly will have to unload some of their excess big men. Between Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel it seems that the former will likely be moved.

Co-Existing Problems

It may be hard to foresee Okafor and Embiid blending in well with the strength of both players on the defensive end and issues when it comes to sliding down to the power forward position.

Okafor’s defensive prowess was something questioned even before he was drafted. While his offensive talent is impeccable, his defensive stance will need more fine-tuning to rank him up among the best players in the NBA.

Aside from that, Okafor has proven he works best using his low-post style of play. With the Sixers rumored to be shifting to an up-tempo style of play, he may find himself the odd man out unless he adapts to playing fastball.

Where Can Okafor Fit?

With Okafor likely to be traded, the question now is which team he would best fit in. His offensive talent is something that could help teams in need of a big man down the post. But as mentioned before, he may need the guidance of a defense-oriented coach to build his stock.

Byron Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers could be a potential tutor. Okafor could be a good add for the team as well seeing how their inside game has been lacking an inside presence.

Aside from the Lakers, the Boston Celtics could be a destination with their budding young core though the team seems more interested in landing Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers for obvious reasons.

Whichever team that agrees to deal with the Sixers for Okafor will likely have something to offer in return. Right now it may be in the form of players to fill in key positions, particularly in the backcourt.

The Sixers have a talented frontline already, including an impending addition in the person of Ben Simmons – potentially one of the top names in the coming NBA Draft.

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