Reports: Sixers in talks to trade Okafor to Pelicans
AUBURN HILLS, Mich – The 76ers were in the middle of trade discussions with the New Orleans Pelicans centered around Jahlil Okafor on Monday.
Sixers could reportedly receive center Alexi Ajinca and a future first-round pick in exchange for Okafor. The first-rounder is expected to be for 2018.
No deal was reached earlier in the day, as Okafor participated in Monday night's game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills. But these trade discussions come five days after CSNChicago.com reported the Chicago Bulls approached the Sixers about a possible trade involving Okafor.
The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 23.
Sixers coach Brett Brown spoke to Okafor on Monday.
"He's doing well," the coach said before the game. "Well enough that we are going to start him."
Okafor declined an interview request before the game, but afterward said, "I'm happy where I am right now. So we will see what happens. It's all rumors right now. Until it comes true, nothing I can do about it. I'm only going to worry about what I can control."
The Sixers have been shopping him and Nerlens Noel, another center, for some time. Okafor is the one the team is more interested in moving, according to sources. It appears the Sixers may not wait until the deadline to part ways with him.
Don't be surprised if Bryan Colangelo, the team's president of basketball operations, had discussions Monday and will have more discussions with teams interested in Okafor. Colangelo is probably asking those teams if they can put together a package better than the one he received from the Pelicans.
Ersan Ilyasova knows what his teammate is going through. The power forward has been traded four times since June 2015.
His advice to Okafor is you can't be emotional about his current situation.
"Obviously if you do, it's going to [mess up] your head so bad, you are going to forget about basketball," Ilyasova said. "It's a part of the business."
Ilyasova was traded to the Pistons after spending seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Obviously when I was traded to Detroit, I tried to contribute in a good way and play," he said. "I worked my [butt] off. The same thing with Orlando [Magic]."
With Joel Embiid's emergence and several other centers on the roster, Okafor is in a bad situation in Philadelphia. Chicago and New Orleans would be better fits for him.
With the Pelicans, he would be paired in the front line with Anthony Davis. New Orleans would get the scoring post player it covets. The move would also enable them to move NBA All-Star Davis back to power forward from the center spot.
Meanwhile, Okafor would also provide a scoring threat from the center position for his hometown Bulls. Chicago is looking for him to be a starter and/or have a vital role with the team. They are even interested in getting a third-team involved to make the deal goes through. That's because the Sixers don't want to make a trade for what they deem is less than equal value for the third-overall pick of the 2015 draft.
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.