Jahlil Okafor to Bulls update: Chicago exploring trade packages for Philadelphia 76ers

The Chicago Bulls (25-26) will make an aggressive push for Philadelphia 76ers centre Jahlil Okafor ahead of the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline, per several reports. The Sixers have publicly acknowledged that both Okafor and Nerlens Noel are available via trade but only in exchange for valuable assets.

The Sixers have been openly shopping both Noel and Okafor since Joel Embiid's long-awaited NBA debut earlier this season. Several reports suggest that they prefer holding onto Noel but aren't opposed to the idea of shipping both seven footers ahead of the trade deadline. According to CSN Chicago, the Bulls recently contacted the Sixers regarding the availability of Okafor, a native of Chicago. "He's (Okafor) on the trading block as the 76ers have surged with the play of Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel manning the middle, and the Bulls are interested, as they don't have much in the way of low-post scoring," Vincent Goodwill reported.

The report added that while Chicago is pushing for a Jahlil Okafor to Bulls trade, the Sixers aren't exhibiting too much enthusiasm. "So far, there's more interest on the Bulls' side than the 76ers' side, according to sources, but the Bulls are interested in Okafor's services. The Bulls could conceivably open up talks to a third team if need be, considering it isn't likely they'd want to part with any future first-round picks as they're still deciding how they are to proceed with franchise direction in the next couple seasons."

Jahlil Okafor trade to Bulls: What can Chicago offer to Philadelphia?

Since they have a surplus of big men on the roster, the Sixers would ideally want either draft picks, young guards or athletic wings. CSN Philadelphia explored a few possibilities. 1) A package of stretch-4 Nikola Mirotic (reportedly on the trading block) and three-point shooting wing Doug McDermott. 2) Michael Carter-Williams (who won the Rookie of the Year award with the Sixers) and Isaiah Canaan. 3) Denzel Valentine or a future first-round pick. All the options are intriguing. It's highly unlikely that the Sixers would bring back Carter-Williams to the roster -- just two years after trading him to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Okafor, an offensive-minded big man out of Duke, entered the league with high expectations but has struggled to make a lasting impact due to Philadelphia's crowded frontcourt which includes Noel, Embiid, Dario Saric, Ersan Ilyasova, Richaun Holmes and a few other international prospects. Also, rookie Ben Simmons, yet to return from his foot injury, played the power forward position during his one-and-done collegiate career with LSU.

Several analysts believe Okafor, hailed as "a professional scorer" by Sixers coach Brett Brown, can be a handful for a team that relies on low-post scoring and has the potential to be a 20-10 player in his prime. However, Okafor's deficiencies on the defensive end and his inability to space the floor have curtailed his effectiveness in the modern-day game that's reliant on athleticism and three-point shooting.

"Jahlil Okafor is a professional scorer. He's 21 years old and his defence is getting better, his rebounding is getting better, his positioning and awareness defensively is getting better. When you weigh it all up and you say, 'Well this is the package of Jahlil Okafor,' that's pretty appealing at age 21," Brown said recently, via ESPN. Stay tuned for the latest on the potential Jahlil Okafor to Chicago Bulls trade.