76ers head coach Brett Brown confirmed on Wednesday what many have been speculating: The team is not yet done exploring the possibility of trading Jahlil Okafor.
Even after an entire year filled of discussions that went nowhere with nearly every team in the association, the team will look into what kind of value Okafor is worth, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. That will help determine the chances at getting a long-overdue trade finally complete.
Brown said Sixers will check with the rest of the league to see what's out there for Jahlil Okafor
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 20, 2017
The Sixers have been aggressively seeking a trade partner for Okafor since the start of the 2016-17 season, but have failed to find a package enticing enough to make a deal.
Okafor, since being drafted by the team with the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, has seen his role with the club steadily decrease. He saw just 22.7 minutes of action per game last season, down from his 30 minute mark the season before.
Despite his recent struggles, Okafor has a good deal of potential in the league. The team no longer has a significant need for his services, with players such as Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Justin Anderson and veteran Amir Johnson already making up the club’s frontcourt.
Okafor, a 21-year-old Duke product, has shown off his ability to score the basketball since entering the league. But the main concerns within NBA front offices come within his inability to effectively play on the defensive end, an area he’ll need to improve upon in order to reach the next level and expand his worth.
