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Sixers Jahlil Okafor relieved that the NBA trade deadline has passed

Second-year 76ers center Jahlil Okafor said the last few weeks of NBA trade rumors had taken a toll.

When Thursday's trade deadline passed and Okafor was still a Sixer, the former Duke standout finally had some peace of mind.

"I just knew the past couple of weeks I couldn't wait until 3 o'clock (Thursday) would pass because I wouldn't have to worry about where I was going to be and have to worry about all the trade rumors and it was  sigh of relief that it was over with," Okafor said following Friday's shootaround. "I am a Sixer and am excited to be playing tonight."

That would be against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center.

Instead of Okafor departing, the Sixers traded center Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks and kept Okafor.

"Once the deal was there for Nerlens, it made it a little more difficult to make a transition to trade Jahlil, but the right deal never presented itself regardless," Sixers president Bryan Colangelo said in a morning press conference.

Even though Okafor is with the Sixers at least through the end of the season, the uncertaintly about his future will continue, something Colangelo readily admitted.

"Quite frankly Jahlil has the same issues Nerlens has, he wants to play and start and see that opportunity," Colangelo said. "At end of day, I am hopeful at some point he can find that and we can find that, but for now he is a valuable part of what we are doing."

Okafor said he is fine with that, although what else was he going to say? He also made it a point to say there is no bitterness toward the Sixers organization for putting him on the trade block.

"I never looked at me being shopped as a negative thing," Okafor said. "It is part of the business. I knew one way or another, I would be here or not, and I am here so there are no hard feelings, none at all."

With starting center Joel Embiid out at least for the next four games due to a left knee bruise, Okafor will likely play more than when Embiid is in uniform.

This season, Okafor is averaging 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 23 minutes per game, while trying to regain the form after off-season knee surgery.

On March 22 he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The injury has bothered him at times during the season.

He said the knee has been feeling good and also that coming back from surgery has been a learning experience.

"It's my first surgery and it is new for me and I am dealing with it, icing it and taking care of it properly," Okafor said.

If only he could take care of the trade discussions, which won't cease.

"It is something a lot of players in the NBA have to deal with, trade rumors," he said. "We are all basketball players and want to play well for ourselves and our team. If it happens in a few months, we will see what happens then."