Sixers center Jahlil Okafor has been held out of the team’s last two games amid increased trade talks, but could the team be pricing themselves out of a potential deal?
According to Chris Mannix of The Vertical and CSN New England, Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo is shopping Okafor for a first-round pick but has had little success finding a buyer.
“I think Philadelphia right now is trying to extract the best possible first-round pick they can get in the 2017 NBA Draft,” Mannix said Tuesday on 97.5 The Fanatic. “The problem with that is that this draft is highly perceived to be a very healthy, deep and talented draft. Teams aren’t looking to move picks out of that draft.”
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It is of little surprise that the Sixers have struggled to move Okafor who is averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this season in 23 minutes a game in 23 appearances this season simply because of the team’s desperation to rectify its logjam of big men.
Netting a first-round pick this year might prove a tall order for Colangelo who might need to settle for far less than market value if it means ultimately moving Okafor prior to the trade deadline.
“The teams I talk to look at Okafor as a solid role-player,” Mannix said. “He’s somebody who maybe could start, maybe come off the bench. He could be a post-scorer but obviously has limitations. Philadelphia still sees him as the third-overall pick from the 2015 draft.”
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
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