Sixers center Jahlil Okafor has rejoined the team ahead of Wednesday night’s tilt against the Boston Celtics after not traveling the team for the past two games as speculation ramped up that a trade involving the two-year veteran could be imminent.
Upon returning to the team, Okafor addressed the trade rumors that he has been a subject of in increasing speculation over the past several weeks.
“I’m just trying to focus on playing basketball,” Okafor said on Wednesday following the team’s shootaround, via ESPN. “It’s really difficult with all the rumors, not knowing if I’ll be here tomorrow. But I know I’m playing tonight and that’s what I’m focusing on.
“The organization has been up front with me and communicating with me that they were in advanced trades. They didn’t tell me I was certainly out of the door, just that it was a possibility. I’m grateful of Coach (Brown) and organization that was up front with me. I know it’s rare for teams to do that.”
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Thus far in 23 games this season, Okafor is averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Okafor missed the last two games after Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo said last week that trade talks were gaining intensity in advance of next week’s NBA trade deadline.
“We’ve got three talented bigs,” Colangelo said last Thursday on 97.5 The Fanatic. “They all feel that they deserve to be looked at as a potential starter and be paid as a starter. The phones have been ringing. There has been a lot of conversations. There’s been some activity. Quite a bit actually in recent weeks. It’s not something that’s just come up in recent weeks because it’s something we’ve been looking to address since I got here.”
Sixers should trade Jahlil Okafor before NBA trade deadine
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
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