Jahlil Okafor (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors regarding Jahlil Okafor were nearing its fruition when the Philadelphia 76ers actually benched him.
According to Sixers coach Brett Brown, the decision not to field in the former 3rd overall pick was because of an apparent trade. This was confirmed by Brown himself via CSN Philadelphia.
"There were trade rumors that were happening before the game," Brown said. "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."
"I feel like it's still fluid," Brown said. "But if you see me not play him, that's probably going to be the reason."
Apparently, the talks involved teams like the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers and even the LA Lakers.
The Nuggets eventually traded for Mason Plumlee, dealing away the disgruntled Jusuf Nurkic in the process. Since the trade also involved the Portland Trail Blazers, it was safe to say that the latter team is also out of the Okafor sweepstakes. Eventually, the Lakers were also taken of the list of interested candidates.
Now, the latest talks involving the New Orleans Pelicans have them pursuing Brook Lopez. Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders has confirmed this.
"The New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets have discussed a trade of Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Tim Frazier and a 2018 protected first-round pick for Brook Lopez, league sources told Basketball Insiders."
Scotto added: "The Pelicans are searching for a center to pair with Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. The Nets are in rebuilding mode and Lopez, a former All-Star center in the prime of his career, is the organization's most valuable trade chip."
However, the article did not dismiss the Pelicans' pursuit of Okafor. The state that the Pelicans are offering Alexis Ajinca and a first round pick for Okafor.
Thus, all is not lost for the Sixers as yet. There is also the Chicago Bulls, but their offer has not been reported yet.
