The Philadelphia 76ers continue to show that they no longer need Jahlil Okafor. According to reports, the 76ers will not pick up Okafor's fourth-year option, which would have earned him $6.3 million in the 2018-19 season. It means the young center will become an unrestricted free agent next year.
Before the decision to decline the option, the Philadelphia 76ers already expressed the desire to get rid of Jahlil Okafor. The 76ers tried and are still trying to part ways with him via an NBA trade. However, until now, there is no progress with that.
Okafor got selected by the 76ers with the third-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. In his first two seasons in the league, he has displayed his scoring prowess, though he dealt with injuries and controversies. These issues made him a staple in the NBA trade rumor mill.
In the present season, Okafor is again a favorite topic in NBA trade talks because he is no longer a part of 76ers head coach Brett Brown's rotation. Brown is relying on Joel Embiid and Richaun Holmes at the center position.
All this development suggests that an Okafor trade is soon to materialize. The 76ers just need to find the team willing to take the risk and add the former Duke standout.
Okafor's potential
Despite a troublesome run so far in the NBA, Jahlil Okafor's potential is still sky-high.
Okafor was limited in all his seasons in the league, but his numbers are promising, especially for a 21-year-old. The Philadelphia 76ers big man has career-averages of 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks per contest. Those stats could improve once he joins a squad that will grant him significant playing time and the opportunity to develop.
Interested franchises
HoopsHype, in a recent report, named four potential organizations that may acquire Jahlil Okafor from the Philadelphia 76ers through an NBA trade. These are the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Among the teams mentioned, Chicago could be the frontrunner. Okafor is from the Windy City and heading back home is almost the perfect scenario for him to resurrect his NBA career.
The Bulls are also desperate for a star following the departure of Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the season. They can mold Okafor to be the new face of the franchise, a task the 76ers failed to accomplish in the past two seasons that he was with them.
