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Sixers Continue To Push Okafor As Deadline Nears

By George Kondoleon

Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sixers aren’t stopping from dealing in this season’s deadline, as Okafor looks to be moved before 3pm EST.

The Sixers’ first move was a minor one, but flipping Ersan Ilyasova was one of the team’s top priorities before Thursday’s trade deadline. Their outright number one priority seems to be moving Jahlil Okafor. Okafor has been bounced around more trade rumors than any other player in the league, and it will come to an end one way or another at 3pm EST.

Okafor’s suitors have seem to gone down, but there is still some sort of market out there. The Indiana Pacers popped up as a potential trade partner earlier this week. Whether it’s a ploy to catalyze a trade between the Nets and the Pacers for Brook Lopez is unknown, but still trade talks always seem to have a way to come to life. Another team that has had unwavering interest in Okafor is Chicago.

The Bulls may be trying to pull in a move for nostalgia, as Okafor would be returning to his hometown despite being a less than perfect fit for the current roster. Okafor needs a change of scenery, and the Sixers seemingly find it necessary to move a center as soon as possible. The Bulls look like the hottest landing spot for Okafor, but roadblocks seem to be getting in the way.

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One of those roadblocks being Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic. According to reports, the Sixers aren’t willing to take on Mirotic, who’s primed to enter restricted free agency this summer. Mirotic has been below average shooting wise this season, and has seemed to have lost his touch from the outside. The Sixers should be looking into somehow swinging Doug McDermott, a shooting big that can come off the bench at the four spot.

Okafor’s value has declined to a point where a first rounder is not a set price, but it seems the Sixers won’t settle for anything less than what they view as a fair return. On The Vertical’s live Facebook show, Adrian Wojnarowski stated that the Sixers were selling Okafor as a former third pick in the draft, and other teams aren’t buying into that sentiment.

Next: Ilyasova Dealt to Atlanta

The Sixers must decide whether to swallow their pride and move forward with a lesser deal, or hold on to Okafor and wait for a rare opening in the market. The deadline is just hours away, and for now Okafor is still a Sixer. Any deal Colangelo pulls off will be scrutinized, but whether he makes a move or not will be more telling of the Sixers moving forward.