Jahlil Okafor’s time is running out with the Philadelphia 76ers, and a suitor willing to sacrifice draft capital could bring the official end of his tenure.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the franchise denied a request to enter buyout discussions and is instead seeking an asset — such as second-round draft picks — in exchange for Okafor.
Since the 76ers recently declined the option on his contract for next season, however, trade negotiations may be difficult.
Okafor would be a one-year rental before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer, so other teams understandably might be reluctant to part with multiple picks. The frustrated forward could be worth a flier on a single second-round choice — the draft is a crapshoot by that point, anyway — as a reclamation project.
After all, Okafor earned first-team All-Rookie honors during the 2015-16 season when he posted 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. His ceiling is lower these days, but that talent hasn’t completely evaporated. Okafor could be a respectable piece somewhere.
But it’s clear that’s not in Philadelphia. The third-year player has appeared in just one game this season.
The Sixers can’t expect much value in return for Okafor, yet anything is better than nothing since he’s certain to leave next summer. It’s just a matter of when Philly receives the right offer — or lowers the asking price and is willing to accept one draft pick, rather than multiple.