Jahlil Okafor’s maligned Sixers career sounds like it’s coming to an end.
According to Sam Amick of USA Today, the Sixers are in talks with the New Orleans Hornets about a trade that would send the second-year big man out of Duke to the Western Conference.
Heading back to Philadelphia? If the Sixers get what they want, a first-round NBA Draft selection.
Sixers & Pelicans in talks about sending Jahlil Okafor to New Orleans. Philly pushing for NO 1st rounder. Story coming at @USATODAYsports
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 6, 2017
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports also reported on the Okafor trade talks.
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
Okafor, the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has been the odd man out in Philadelphia’s center-heavy roster. As the franchise moved past picking assets to assembling a roster built to compete, the presence of Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Okafor on the roster wasn’t going to work in the long term.
As the Sixers took off and became a playoff contender in late December, it coincided with Okafor moving to the bench and barely playing in many games. With Embiid as the franchise cornerstone and Noel’s defensive ability and ability to finish at the rim a fit for the current rotation, Okafor didn’t have a place.
If the Sixers can turn a part frequently receiving DNP-CD (did not play, coaches decision) into a first-round pick, it would likely be thought of as a win around the NBA.
Okafor rumors
For the Pelicans, adding Okafor’s low-post scoring ability and pairing him with Anthony Davis is intriguing and would allow Davis to play the power forward position on a full-time basis.
Heading into play on Feb. 6, Okafor was averaging 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this season.
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Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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