Jahlil Okafor Focused on Moment, Not Rumors: ‘I'm a Sixer Right Now'

Jahlil Okafor can't predict the future. He knows he has been the focus of trade talks. Until a move is made - and if one is - by the Feb. 23 deadline, he is focusing on where he is at the moment. 

"I have no idea," Okafor said in regard to his future after the Sixers' 111-103 loss to the Spurs (see Instant Replay). "I'm a Sixer right now and we have a big game tomorrow night (in Orlando). I am right now. I'm going to keep doing what I do. I work as hard as I can for this team and this organization and we'll see what happens."

The Bulls and Pelicans are among the teams that have inquired about Okafor, according to a source (see story). The Sixers have an unbalanced roster with a logjam of centers. Since January, Okafor's role has been decreased to DNPs for the most part when Joel Embiid plays. He starts when Embiid is out. 

Brett Brown has maintained open communication with Okafor as well as Nerlens Noel as the roster has been a topic of trade buzz all season. 

"All the time, all the time," Brown said of the frequency of his conversations with Okafor (see story). "We talk like I'm talking to you now and have no problem doing it. It's how I feel most comfortable. I feel like it cleanses myself. I feel like we can talk where it's real. I will help him, we will help him. And I'm going to coach him until somebody tells me I'm not."

Okafor has started in his last five games while Embiid has been sidelined with a left knee contusion. On Wednesday, Okafor scored 20 points with a career-high 10 made free throws, eight rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes against the Spurs. 

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