Jahlil Okafor has been mentioned many times this past few weeks to be traded. The 76ers decided to bench him as the trade negotiation is underway.
According to Philadelphia Inquirer , Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown said that Okafor’s fate is imminent that he will be traded.
"Jahlil Okafor’s situation is transparent,” coach Brown said to the press. “He’s in the middle of being discussed in trade scenarios.”
For that reason, coach Brown decided to bench Okafor. In fact, in the last two games, Okafor was out of rotation. The 76ers brings in the 22-year old Richaun Holmes into the rotation in the two last vicotry against Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets.
Philadelphia 76ers is currently in the conversation with several teams in the trade of Okafor. Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers are among the teams which have been interested to get the former Duke University center. The serious team is New Orleans Pelicans which has engaged in a negotiaton with the 76ers as reported by ESPN.
Okafor is reported to understand his situation. The overcrowded front court in Philadelphia with three main centers, Okafor, Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel required the 76ers to send one of them away.
Embiid has been the strongest one from the three centers since the beginning of the season. When he was injured his knee after the game against Portland Trail Blazers last month, the Sixers has to play either Okafor or Noel. Following the careful analysis during the absence of Embiid, team management decided to send Okafor away and keep Noel.
The 76ers entered the 2016-17 season with the high hope this season after selecting the versatile forward Ben Simmons in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, Simmons’ long injury made things went the opposite direction.
The Sixers is now 21-34 and ranked 13th in the Easterm Conference. In an effort to revamp the roster, the team management has decided to unclog its overloaded front court by sending Okafor away.
Watch the report when Okafor started as center for the 76ers before he was put in the trade market below:
