Philadelphia 76ers NBA Trade Rumors 2017: Sixers Bench Jahlil Okafor Amid Trade Rumors
The trade deadline is just a week away, so there should be a lot of movement as teams start to tinker with their lineups. So, when the Philadelphia 76ers benched a healthy Jahlil Okafor during Saturday's game with the Miami Heat, many knew that something was about to happen.
After the game, Sixers coach Brett Brown admitted that he sat out Okafor because of trade rumors.
"There were trade rumors that were happening before the game. I was aware of those. In those situations, I felt that it was best to not complicate things and not play Jahlil. We talked about it together before the game and I explained to him that this was going to happen for this reason. That's why I made the decision," he told CBS Philly.
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According to National Basketball Association (NBA) writer Alex Kennedy, the Sixers discussed potential deals with the Chicago Bulls, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Portland Trailblazers and the Denver Nuggets. The Blazers traded Mason Plumlee to Nuggets for Jusuf Nurkic on Sunday, and Kennedy has reported that the two teams are no longer interested in the Sixers center.
Okafor was also held out of the Sixers' game against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, and he will likely sit out Wednesday's game against the Celtics as well.
Many believe that the Bulls are currently the frontrunners to land Okafor. The team is still fighting for a playoff spot and Okafor can give them a scoring threat inside the paint. Chicago's also Okafor's hometown, so this could be a homecoming for him if he's traded there.
Last week, reports say the Pelicans reportedly offered the Sixers Alexis Ajinca and a first-round pick in return for Okafor. Sources also say the Sixers want the Pelicans to include Jrue Holiday in the deal.
Is Okafor as good as gone before the trade deadline? Sources say the Bulls and the Sixers may get a deal done soon, so let's see.
