Remember last Saturday night, when Brett Brown said he did not play Jahlil Okafor against the Heat because of trade rumors? All the signs were pointing to Okafor being traded.
Okafor didn't make the trip to Charlotte last Monday, either. And then he wasn't traded. He did travel to Boston for the Sixers' final game before the All-Star break with his future with the organization still unclear. Seven days after Okafor was initially held out because of rumors, the second-year big man remains a Sixer. It's been a bizarre situation throughout. More information as to why Okafor didn't play last Saturday have emerged.
Okafor did not play against Miami because the Sixers and Portland Trail Blazers had a trade that was "close to happening," according to TNT's David Aldridge. Portland instead opted to trade with Denver for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick, per Aldridge.
With five days until the Feb. 23 trade deadline, the Sixers still have time to move Okafor. On Saturday, the Mavericks were linked as a potential landing spot for Okafor. Add Dallas to the list that includes the Bulls and Pelicans. Both the Nuggets and Blazers were reportedly interested in Okafor, too, before making a trade themselves. Denver opted for Mason Plumlee, and Portland added its third first-round pick in the 2017 draft, which is believed to be loaded with talent.
Stay tuned.
