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Report: Boston's most likely trade option involves Okafor

Talk of the 76ers possibly trading Jahlil Okafor to the Boston Celtics just won't go away.

Among the Celtics' trade options, CSNNE.com reports, acquiring the 6-foot-11, 257-pound Okafor is the one most likely to happen.

The Sixers and Celtics were close to completing a deal on draft night. Both squads have kept the door open to get a deal done before the start of the season. And Sixers president Bryan Colangelo is eager to balance out a roster that's overloaded with post players.

However, as CSNNE.com points out, the Celtics have concerns about Okafor playing in Boston.  He was involved in two street fights there in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning.

As a result, the Celtics are unwilling to give up a lot to acquire Okafor. They have a practice of minimizing the risk when acquiring guys who have had what they view as a character flaw.

The Sixers, meanwhile, don't want to make a trade unless they get equal value in return.

But there's a sense that Okafor would pair well with free-agent addition Al Horford, who can play center and power forward. Okafor would add solid low-post skills to a team looking to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference. But the Celtics, according to sources, preferred Sixers center Nerlens Noel until they picked up Amir Johnson's team option earlier this month.

Noel, 22, has a similar game as defensive-minded Johnson, yet is seven years younger than the 11-year veteran.

CSNNE.com's other reported trade scenarios for the Celtics involve acquiring Russell Westbrook from Oklahoma City or Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Sixers and Celtics were also involved in trade talks for Okafor at February's trade deadline.

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers