Orlando Magic Daily
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Trade Deadline Targets for the Orlando Magic

By Alvaro Grullon

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan represents his team during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. The Philadelphia 76ers received the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers won 98-92 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers won 98-92 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers

If the Magic decide to go young and collect as many young assets as possible, Jahlil Okafor may be an option for the team. The Philadelphia 76ers have made Okafor available in trade discussion and are actively looking to move him before the trade deadline.

The Magic would have to move Nikola Vucevic to open minutes for Okafor to get playing time and develop.

Philadelphia drafted Okafor third overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. This season Okafor is averaging 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 23 minutes per game. In his rookie season last year, Okafor averaged 17.5 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 30 minutes per game.

Okafor is only 21 years old and has a lot of room to grow and develop as a player. The Magic have a solid history of developing young centers, such as Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard and even Nikola Vucevic, so this would be an opportunity for the Magic to try to acquire a player that they could develop into their next center of the future.

And Okafor’s skill set as a low-post scorer makes him unique. Although his limited mobility causes problems on defense.

The only issue with acquiring a player like Okafor is that it could cost the Magic a first-round draft pick plus a young player like Mario Hezonja.  Depending on what direction the Magic decide to take going forward, this could be an option for the Magic.