At one point, it appeared as if Sixers center Jahlil Okafor was going to be traded any minute, but after four days of supposedly serious trade talks, Okafor is still on the roster.
Could a mystery team be holding things up?
While multiple reports suggest Okafor is likely heading to the Chicago Bulls or New Orleans Pelicans, there is now a belief among NBA reporters that a third team might be in on the bidding.
CHI and NOP still seem to be at the top of the list. But gut feeling tells me some mystery team is involved with how things are dragging out https://t.co/jRT44yROFl
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 14, 2017
With POR/DEN acquiring centers, it seems the Bulls and Pelicans are the teams to watch for an Okafor deal. Another team could enter mix too.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 12, 2017
Okafor did not play for the Sixers in their previous two games, and is no longer traveling with the team due to trade talks.
When asked why, head coach Brett Brown did not try to hide the truth — Okafor is close to being traded.
“Jahlil Okafor’s situation is transparent,” Brown said to Comcast SportsNet. “He’s in the middle of being discussed in trade scenarios. So I felt that it complicates things to play him the last game, and now clearly this is continuing on. That’s the reason he isn’t here.”
Okafor is averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this season in 23 minutes a game.
Sixers should trade Jahlil Okafor before NBA trade deadine
The Sixers have been trying to trade Okafor for weeks, as they have three centers on the roster — Okafor, Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel — but can’t play them all.
With both Embiid and Noel clearly outplaying Okafor this season, the team has reportedly increased efforts to trade Okafor over the past few weeks.
Okafor was the No. 3 overall pick by the Sixers in 2015, and averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds his rookie season.
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