It appears that the Philadelphia 76ers remain interested in completing an NBA trade involving one of their young frontcourt players, Jahlil Okafor. In a tweet by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, he shared a statement by 76ers head coach Brett Brown, which suggested that they are exploring options when it comes to Okafor.
Brown said Sixers will check with the rest of the league to see what's out there for Jahlil Okafor
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 20, 2017
Philadelphia selected Okafor with the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
In his first two seasons with the squad, he has shown tremendous potential despite only playing in 103 games. He has career averages of 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks per contest. The 76ers are yet to reveal the real reason/s why they are looking to get rid of Okafor. In the past few years, fans and analysts have speculated as to why the franchise wants him out of the City of Brotherly Love. Some believe it is because of the off-court controversies he got involved in in the past. Meanwhile, others think it is his defense that makes him an expendable.
Frontline logjam
Another potential reason why the 76ers aim to trade Okafor is that they already have a bevy of developing big men.
At center, it is franchise star Joel Embiid who will take most of the minutes once he is healthy. Embiid's backup is Richaun Holmes, who put up good numbers in the 2016-17 season. Dario Saric and Amir Johnson, on the other hand, are going to take the responsibilities at power forward. Philadelphia also has Ben Simmons and Robert Covington who can provide frontcourt versatility.
If Okafor stays in Philadelphia, there is a big chance his role and playing time will diminish. It already began in the 76ers' previous campaign when his minutes dropped to just 22.7 per game. A bit distant from his rookie year when he was on the floor for 30 minutes each night.
Interested parties
Earlier this year, there were several organizations rumored to be interested in trading for Okafor.
Some of the most prominent were the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and the Chicago Bulls. As of the moment, it is uncertain if these teams are still hoping to accomplish a deal with the 76ers for the 21-year-old.
The Lakers and the Celtics may no longer be in the running for Okafor. There are already four centers in Los Angeles following the recent addition of Andrew Bogut. The Celtics are close to having a complete roster after the blockbuster moves they executed this offseason. From the looks of it, the Bulls might be the best business partners for the 76ers at this point since they are undergoing the rebuilding phase.
