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Should the Charlotte Hornets Trade for Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel?

By Jerry Stephens

Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to trade two of their young big men in Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor. One of these two players could be a perfect for the Charlotte Hornets.

ESPN has reported that the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to trade big men, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, before the NBA Draft on June 23rd. The Charlotte Hornets may have a void to fill at their center position this off-season. Should the team look to make a move for one of the two 76ers big men?

Noel and Okafor are both talented, young big men who have plenty of upside. Many teams around the league will be making offers to Philadelphia in attempts to make a deal for one or both of their big men. Charlotte may be one of those teams to potentially make a move for one of them.

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The Charlotte Hornets will be stuck with quite a predicament at the center position this summer. Al Jefferson is set to be an unrestricted free agent and even though he want to retire in Charlotte, he will cost the team a lot of money to re-sign. If the team makes a different move other than bringing back Big Al, they could save some money to re-sign their more important free agents.

Noel and Okafor won’t come cheap from the 76ers. It will likely cost a team multiple draft picks and/or young players to make a deal for one of them. Philadelphia has been one of the worst teams’ in the NBA over the past few years.

The 76ers haven’t been a great team but they do have some great young talent on their roster. Nerlens and Jahlil are two of the most talented big men in the NBA. Philadelphia will likely be looking to acquire future picks and/or young guards because the team is filled with centers.

Nerlens Noel averaged 11.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game this past season. He shot 52.1% from the field and played in 67 games last year. He will be entering his third season in the NBA next year. He still has plenty of room to grow.

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Jahlil Okafor averaged 17.5 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 1.2 blocks per game in his rookie season. Okafor is seen as one of the most talented young big men in the league. He has the potential to be a superstar center and every team should be at least trying to make a move for him.

The Charlotte Hornets have a lot of future first round picks to trade in the future. The team holds all of their future first round picks and they have multiple players under contract that they could be looking to move. It would likely take at least two first round picks and either one of two talented players to get Noel or Okafor.

Okafor would likely cost more than Noel because he is a better offensive player. But what Nerlens lacks on the offensive end, he makes up for on the defensive end. He is a high level rebounder and a great interior defender. The main problem with Noel is whether he is more of a power forward or a center in the NBA. He has a smaller frame than most centers in the NBA today but he has tremendous length an athleticism.

Jahlil on the other hand is a legit seven footer and he may be one of the most skilled low post big men in the league today. He is a decent defender but he could make a competing team an instant contender with his style of play. Both of these big men would be great additions to the Charlotte Hornets.

The team will likely have to move Jeremy Lamb, Spencer Hawes, and/or Cody Zeller if they want to land Noel or Okafor. The Hornets should definitely look into acquiring one of the Philadelphia 76ers big men. They have enough depth, talent, and picks to get the job done.

Next: Should the Hornets Trade Jeremy Lamb?

Not many experts would expect Charlotte to be in the market for a big men like Nerlens of Jahlil but I think it would be the perfect move for the team. I think both would fit perfectly with the team. Like I said before, Okafor would likely come at a higher price but he would be worth the move because he could be seen as a younger, more athletic Al Jefferson. Noel would also be a great acquisition for the team because he fills the role of an athletic, rim protecting big man who could grab rebounds.

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