Even before the season began, the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to clear their logjam at the center position by looking for deals for either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel. The latest news has the Indiana Pacers showing interest in Okafor to try and get Paul George some much-needed help.
ESPN reported that the Indiana Pacers have reached out to the Philadelphia 76ers about Jahlil Okafor, saying that according to sources, the struggling Eastern Conference team is looking for any help they can get. While it remains unclear how serious the Pacers are in acquiring the second-year player, Indiana has reportedly alerted teams that their 2017 first round pick is available.
During the recently concluded NBA All-Star Weekend, Joel Embiid said that he would prefer that the Philadelphia 76ers keep Jahlil Okafor. “We got a lot of talent, and I feel we can use everybody if we want to get to where we want to,” Embiid said. “Anytime you have that type of talent, you got to find ways to make it work.”
Bleacher Report notes that prior to acquiring DeMarcus Cousins, the New Orleans Pelicans were in discussions with the Philadelphia 76ers about Jahlil Okafor. Similarly, before making a trade of their own, the Denver Nuggets also inquired about the 21-year-old.
Jahlil Okafor has found himself in a reduced role this season, mostly playing off the bench and occasionally starting whenever Joel Embiid does not play. The former Duke standout is averaging 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 38 games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. During his rookie season, Jahlil Okafor normed 15 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. As pointed out by Bleacher Report, Jahlil Okafor has the worst net rating among the Sixers’ frontcourt players, with a minus -15.9. Joel Embiid is tops on that list with a plus 3.2.
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