NBA Trade Rumors: Pelicans Interested In Jahlil Okafor, Brook Lopez

The New Orleans Pelicans need to upgrade their roster and build around superstar Anthony Davis.

Davis, who’s averaging 27.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game this season, has played mostly center for New Orleans, but his natural position is power forward.

Upgrading at center is a need for the Pelicans as the Feb. 23 NBA trade deadline approaches, and they are working toward acquiring one.

Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers and Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets are the names in the rumor mill at the moment. Here’s the latest from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports’ The Vertical.

Philadelphia and New Orleans engaging in talks focused on a trade for 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 6, 2017

Sources: New Orleans has been trying to get a trade package that includes unloading Omer Asik contract. Philly deal wouldn't include him.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 6, 2017

New Orleans has been engaged on several fronts to land a center, including pursuit of Brooklyn's Brook Lopez, sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 6, 2017

The Pelicans are willing to trade a first-round pick for a center, too.

Sources: Pels have been pursuing larger deals for center w/ 2 hopes: Trading '18 first-rounder (not '17 w/ loaded draft) and unloading Asik.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 6, 2017

The Pelicans are 19-32 this season, but they’re still only 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference standings. A trade deadline upgrade might be enough to make them competitive down the stretch.

Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images