Yeah the Lakers and the Sixers probably both might wish they had reversed selections. I could absolutely see that trade. I think Okafor is better than some think, but for the Sixers they clearly need a creative guard more than a scoring big man and the Lakers have other guard options. I would imagine though the thought of Randle and Okafor together isn't easy to put together either.
Makes a lot of sense for the Sixers (and I think they could even throw in something) but not sure from the Lakers side.
However, I'm unclear what better offer than Okafor is coming for him. He wasn't very good this season bar a short stretch and of course well this whole thing.
I wonder how different the whole Sixers season would have been if the Lakers had taken Okafor as many expected (which of course does mean if they were ever serious about that they thought he could work). The whole Noel vs Okafor mess and spacing disaster goes away. Their play early when they had literally no point guards is likely better. I still think they probably have the worst record in the league, but not by quite so far. But also they look much more like a team with a plan. Simmons or Ingram would fit with a Russell/ Noel but Ingram probably better with Saric.
Russell, Covington/ Stauskas, Ingram, Saric, Noel and Embiid off the bench, that's a pretty fun looking lineup. Not great defensively, esp at the guard spots which is an issue.
If the Sixers get ingram the russell Okafor trade makes plenty of sense for them, and throwing in the thunder or Heat pick maybe if needed. If they get Simmons I'm less clear, still ok but you might prefer a 3 and D kind of guard versus a distributor.
