Sixers: Is Bryan Colangelo Over-Estimating Okafor’s Market?
The Sixers have been at the core of this year’s trade talks, but Okafor’s trade suitors are looking elsewhere for possibilities.
Bryan Colangelo inherited one of the more promising, yet tasking general manager opportunities in the NBA. After the debated tenure of revolutionary GM Sam Hinkie came to an unexpected end with the Sixers, Colangelo swooped in and took the job of the team his father took control of half a season earlier.
After what seemed to be a well-handled offseason, Colangelo slowly earned the trust of many. That trust has since waned, with controversy facing the team. Jahlil Okafor is currently in reported trade talks with various teams, but prior to that came news of Joel Embiid‘s torn meniscus, which does not require surgery.
Colangelo was asked about the injury when it was just being called a knee contusion, he often deflected. In one specific interview with 94 WIP, he even stated that “due to various constraints including HIPAA laws and privacy for the athletes” he wouldn’t be able to disclose updated injury news.
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It goes far past the Embiid injury news. Liberty Ballers’ Jake Pavorsky wrote a scathing piece on the untrustworthiness of Colangelo’s handling of injuries in his Sixers tenure. The untrustworthiness may go far beyond injuries however.
Jahlil Okafor has been tossed around in serious trade talks the past few days. Various teams were first mentioned, such as Denver and Portland, who ended up making a deal of their own involving centers. The Bulls have been outed as front runners, and the Pelicans were tabbed as second in interest.
Since then, Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto reported that the Pelicans were in talks with the Nets for a deal involving Brook Lopez. Colangelo, thought to be a “man of action”, is now sitting back as potential suitors are starting to slowly come off the board. Is Colangelo over valuing Okafor? Once thought of as a top prospect, his game has fail to adapt into the NBA’s style, a worry put in the forefront before draft day.
It’s clear that he at least over valued the trade market. The Sixers have left behind Jahlil Okafor for Monday’s game to Charlotte, preserving his health through trade discussions. This seemed to signal that a trade was close to happening. But now with multiple teams off the books, a deal is looking less likely.
There’s still Chicago, right? Well, maybe. David Kaplan of CSN Chicago has reported that a deal between the Bulls and the Sixers involving Okafor is “not done or close”. So, with a deal not being close, and Okafor left behind, how is Colangelo going to handle the situation going forward?
The Sixers are slated for a matchup in Boston on Wednesday, leaving them with a huge question. Will Okafor rejoin them, or will he sat out yet another game? This, all because of trade talks that were seemingly closer than they truly are.
Colangelo may have went into this trade season with a bigger head than expected. Now, a young center is held out with an uncertain future, and no trade clearly coming to a close. We never really know what goes on behind the scenes, so Colangelo could be keeping his cards close to his chest.
But this inaction is pushing teams towards other deals, while putting in question his handling of players before trades. Indecision, inaction, or overvaluing a player with no market. If Colangelo can’t pull a deal off, his hurt reputation will continue to crumble.