Jahlil Okafor Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Sixers Notes: Okafor, Holmes, McConnell, Fultz

November 4th, 2017 at 7:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers refuse to negotiate a buyout with Jahlil Okafor in part because they don’t want the Celtics to get him for free, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia has held trade talks with Boston about the third-year center, dating back to last season. The Celtics were recently awarded an $8.4MM disabled player exception and would probably pounce on Okafor if he hits the open market.

In addition, Pompey notes, the Sixers have a history of trying to get something in exchange for their players, even when their future clearly is no longer in Philadelphia. As an example, he cites Evan Turner, who was in the same situation as Okafor four years ago. The Sixers decided in October not to pick up Turner’s option, but he remained on the roster until the February deadline, when he was dealt to Indiana. Pompey suggests that if Philly can’t find an acceptable deal for Okafor, he could face a long wait until he plays again.

There’s more news out of Philadelphia:

Richaun Holmes, who made his season debut Friday night, gives the Sixers a needed boost to their interior defense, Pompey adds in a separate story. Now recovered from a fractured bone in his left wrist, Holmes limited the Pacers to six points in the paint while he was in the game. Coach Brett Brown says Amir Johnson remains the primary backup to Joel Embiid, but Pompey believes Holmes will challenge for playing time. “Richaun gave us a lot of energy and I’m glad to have him back,” Embiid said.
T.J. McConnell has managed to contribute this season, even though Ben Simmons has been given control of the offense, according to David Murphy of The Philadelphia Inquirer. McConnell, who started 51 games at point guard last season, has been moved to a reserve role and has been effective when paired with Simmons in the backcourt.
The oddest story surrounding the Sixers this year has involved first-round pick Markelle Fultz, writes Ken Berger of Bleacher Report. After playing well during summer league, Fultz reported to training camp in September with a changed shooting motion and was recently diagnosed with scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder. Former Lakers strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco said scapular imbalance isn’t painful and is a common condition in the NBA. “It certainly can lead to some structural pathology and pain issues,” DiFrancesco said. “But that in itself is not going to immediately, directly, equal pain.”

Cavaliers Notes: Bledsoe, Okafor, Wade, Irving

November 4th, 2017 at 6:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers were among the teams mentioned when the Eric Bledsoe trade request first went public, but Cleveland should pass on the Suns guard, writes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. In response to a reader’s question, Vardon says Bledsoe doesn’t solve the Cavs’ need for shooters and his desire to start would muddle an already crowded backcourt.

Bledsoe shot 43% from the floor and 34% from 3-point range last season and wouldn’t stretch opposing defenses the way the Cavaliers need. Bledsoe and LeBron James were workout partners this summer, so they have a connection, but Vardon doesn’t expect Cleveland to offer any significant assets. Phoenix is looking for young talent and valuable draft picks, and apart from Brooklyn’s unprotected first-rounder, the Cavs don’t have much to offer in those areas.

Sources also tell Vardon the team isn’t interested in Sixers center Jahlil Okafor.

There’s more today out of Cleveland:

Dwyane Wade won’t rejoin the starting lineup before Isaiah Thomas returns from his hip injury, Vardon adds in the same piece. With Derrick Rose at point guard, the Cavaliers need J.R. Smith starting beside him to provide a 3-point threat. Smith is averaging 5.2 points in nine games this season and struggling with his shot, hitting just .209 from long distance, but he has a history as an effective 3-point shooter. Wade, who hasn’t been much better at .222, started three games at the beginning of the year before asking to be moved to a reserve role.
Cleveland hasn’t figured out how to handle the loss of Kyrie Irving, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Irving played a key role in winning three straight Eastern Conference titles and posted a career-best 25.2 points per game last season to go with 5.8 assists. He gave the offense an explosive quality that has been missing so far this year. “One thing I did notice at Miami, teams were afraid of us a little bit,” Wade said in comparing his old Heat teams with the Cavs. “Ain’t nobody afraid. Maybe at some point it will get there, but not right now. Everyone’s playing free, it’s early in the year, and everything’s going right for everybody but us. And we’ve got to figure it out.”
Coach Tyronn Lue has expressed a desire to “play with pace,” but Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com isn’t convinced that’s the best approach for the NBA’s oldest team.

Latest On Jahlil Okafor

November 2nd, 2017 at 10:03am CST by Luke Adams

Having turned down Jahlil Okafor‘s request for a buyout, the Sixers remain focused on finding a trade involving the third-year big man, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

According to Wojnarowski, Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo is determined to land some sort of “asset” in an Okafor deal. However, a trade may ultimately revolve around future second-round picks in exchange for Okafor, league sources tell Wojnarowski.

It has been a busy week on the Okafor front. We heard last Friday that the 76ers are working Okafor’s camp to try to find a workable trade, but the club wasn’t able to find a deal before the rookie scale option deadline on Tuesday. Philadelphia declined Okafor’s option for 2018/19, which prompted him to ask for a buyout, as he confirmed on Wednesday. The former third overall pick further expressed his frustration with his current situation in a conversation with reporters.

The Celtics have been mentioned as a possible destination for Okafor, but a few other teams have displayed interest in the 21-year-old as a “reclamation project,” per Wojnarowski. Woj’s report suggests that an Eric Bledsoe trade may help create the “moving parts around the league” necessary to pave the way for an Okafor deal. While it’s not clear if the Suns have interest in Okafor, Woj does note that they’re monitoring the situation in Philadelphia.

Texas Notes: Okafor, Barea, Anderson, Paul

November 1st, 2017 at 10:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks may have a long-term need at center, but they don’t plan to pursue Jahlil Okafor, tweets Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Okafor wants to be bought out or traded after the Sixers declined to pick up his option for 2018/19. The Mavs “are not particularly interested in kicking the tires” on Okafor, according to Sefko.

Dallas brought in one former Philadelphia center when it traded for Nerlens Noel in February. Noel wasn’t able to work out a long-term deal with the team as a restricted free agent this summer. He opted to take a one-year qualifying offer and will be unrestricted in July of 2018.

There’s more basketball news out of Texas:

Mavericks guard J.J. Barea says the “crazy minutes” he played early last season contributed to a left calf muscle tear that bothered him throughout the season, Sefko relays in a full story. Barea is coming off his first summer since 2011 without international basketball and is playing just 23.3 minutes per game. His average was about 10 minutes higher during the first nine games of last season because of injuries in the Dallas backcourt.
Rockets forward Ryan Anderson was in New York tonight after a summer filled with trade rumors involving the Knicks, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Anderson was a key figure in Houston’s quest to acquire Carmelo Anthony, but he says he never believed a deal was close. “I don’t think that was too much of a realistic thought to a lot of people because it was so much of what you believe,” Anderson said. “There were so many different news articles. Maybe in preseason there was a little bit of a thought because it was so fresh, but not at all now, I’m ready to move forward this year. We have a battle tonight. We have to focus on that. That’s 100 percent where my mind is now.”
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni expects Chris Paul to return in about two weeks, Feigen tweets. Paul has been sidelined since opening night with pain in his knees.
The Spurs are still waiting for their investment in Patty Mills to pay off, according to Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News. The veteran point guard, who received a four-year, $50MM deal to re-sign with the team over the summer, is averaging 6.1 points and 2.9 assists in a reserve role this season and is shooting just 32% from the field.

Jahlil Okafor Confirms He Wants Trade Or Buyout

November 1st, 2017 at 6:52pm CST by Luke Adams

6:52pm: The Sixers remain firm about not buying out Okafor, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. They continue to look for a trade and have found a few interested teams.

11:04am: After having his option for 2018/19 declined by the Sixers, Jahlil Okafor confirmed today that he has asked the team about a buyout, and would like to be traded or bought out as soon as possible (Twitter links via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer).

Okafor’s comments come in the wake of a report from Marc Stein of The New York Times, who indicated on Tuesday night that the third-year center may push for a buyout in the hopes of finding a new team right away. The Sixers remain below the salary floor, so a buyout wouldn’t hurt them financially. However, it would be a tough pill to swallow less than 30 months after drafting Okafor with the No. 3 overall pick, and it’s not something the team is interested in right now, per Pompey (Twitter link).

Okafor, one of the most highly-regarded prospects of the 2015 draft class, enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Sixers back in 2015/16, averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 53 games (48 starts). However, he saw his role with the club begin to decrease last season.

Even after Philadelphia traded Nerlens Noel to the Mavericks in February, the 76ers’ depth chart at center remained crowded, with Joel Embiid looking like a franchise player when he was healthy and Richaun Holmes emerging as a viable backup. This season, Amir Johnson and even Dario Saric have earned minutes at center, leaving no room in the rotation for Okafor, despite Holmes being sidelined to start the year.

While few top-three picks have their rookie scale options turned down, Okafor told reporters today that he actually didn’t mind the fact that the Sixers passed on his $6.3MM option for 2018/19, since he doesn’t have a role in Philadelphia.

“Honestly, I didn’t want them to pick up my option,” Okafor said, per Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia (Twitter link). “I’ve been going through a lot since I’ve been here.”

[RELATED: More quotes from Okafor]

Currently, Okafor is on track to reach free agency in the summer of 2018. The Sixers are reportedly working with his camp to try to find a workable trade, but his contract situation may complicate those discussions.

Because Okafor’s fourth-year option was declined, whichever team has him on its roster to finish the 2017/18 season won’t be able to offer him a starting salary higher than what his option was worth ($6.3MM). Okafor will also be an unrestricted free agent, rather than an RFA, meaning he may end up being just a six-month rental if a team trades for him.

Jahlil Okafor Talks Trade, Buyout, Frustration

November 1st, 2017 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

As we detailed earlier today, Jahlil Okafor told reporters on Wednesday that he has asked the Sixers about buying him out, and would like to be traded or bought out as soon as possible.

We passed along a small portion of Okafor’s comments in that story, but Rich Hofmann of The Athletic has a more detailed account of what the third-year big man told reporters today. Hofmann’s piece, which is available to non-subscribers, is worth checking out in full, particularly for Sixers fans, since Okafor is refreshingly frank about his situation. Here are a few highlights:

On the Sixers’ reaction to his request for a buyout:

“I only talked about it with [president of basketball operations] Bryan [Colangelo] and he just said that he felt that if he bought me out, another team would be getting me for free. But that’s where we stand today, because he waited so long to trade me. There’s nothing else to do. I’m not playing here and at the end of this season, I’m an unrestricted free agent. I want to be on the court and play.”

On when he decided he’d like to be bought out:

“Yesterday. I didn’t expect November 1st to hit, that I would be here. That’s why these past few weeks when we got asked the question about the rotation and stuff like that, I’ve been calm because I didn’t think I would still be here today. I didn’t think that Bryan would keep me, honestly. But here I am, November 1st I’m still here and looking to play somewhere. I’m 21, I’m healthy, and I’m trying to get on the court.”

On his trade value and why he wants out of Philadelphia:

“Teams are not really looking to give up anything when somebody can walk out of the door at the end of the season. So it puts me in a tough spot because I want to be on the court. This is my life, this is my career, and I’m not getting an opportunity here, which is fine. The team looks great and I’m not a part of that. They’re going to continue to do great things, but at the same time, I want to play.”

On whether he feels like there were trades the Sixers could have made:

“Yeah, talking with my agent, there were definitely deals on the table. Bryan didn’t deem they were fair, which I understand, I’m a number three pick. But at the same time, that’s what teams were offering. Me and my agent started getting the hint that they weren’t going to offer more, so it’s rather that you’re going to make a move on it or not. And he waited too long, and now I’m here today. I’m not saying a trade is impossible, but I just know it’s going to be really difficult knowing that I’m an unrestricted free agent after the season.”

While we wait to see what the Sixers do with Okafor, the Celtics are a team to watch, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who notes (via Twitter) that Boston has shown “a lot of interest” in the young center.

Pompey believes the C’s would be the most likely landing spot for Okafor in the event of a buyout, though it’s not clear if the team is willing to give up anything of value in a trade.

And-Ones: De Colo, Okafor, Shumpert, Wright

October 31st, 2017 at 10:14pm CST by Luke Adams

French guard Nando De Colo has enjoyed some of the best seasons of his playing career in recent years, including earning EuroLeague MVP honors for CSKA Moscow in 2016. However, while De Colo is happy to continue playing in Europe and is concentrating on that for the time being, he admits that he hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of an NBA return.

De Colo spent two seasons with the Spurs and Raptors from 2013 to 2015, but never got to play a significant role during his first stint in the NBA, as he tells Spanish media outlet Farhampton Magazine (link via TalkBasket.net).

“The truth is that going to San Antonio was a somewhat complicated decision because I knew I could continue in Europe,” De Colo said. “I had contacts with Barcelona, for example. On the other hand, I wanted to go to the NBA and see how it was. In the Spurs, I didn’t have the opportunities I expected. I think that is a part of life that you can’t control.”

At age 30, De Colo still has time to return to the NBA, but given his starring role for CSKA, it’d be no surprise if he decided to remain overseas to finish his career.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

The Timberwolves don’t have any interest in Jahlil Okafor, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Okafor, who had his 2018/19 turned down by the Sixers, remains on the trade block and may even end up seeking a buyout.
Cavaliers swingman Iman Shumpert will be sidelined for at least the next five to seven days due to knee soreness, the team announced today in a press release. Shumpert, the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason, is averaging a career-low 18.2 minutes per contest early this season for Cleveland.
Longtime NBA forward Dorell Wright, who appeared in 549 regular season games over the course of 11 NBA seasons, has signed in Germany with Brose Bamberg, the team recently announced (via Twitter). Wright last played in the NBA for Portland during the 2014/15 season.
Former NBA forward Al Harrington has taken an unusual career path since his days as a player ended, having gotten into the medical marijuana business. David Aldridge of NBA.com has an interesting and in-depth look at Harrington, who wants to encourage the NBA to consider the benefits of medical marijuana.

Jahlil Okafor May Push For Buyout

October 31st, 2017 at 6:13pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Sixers have decided not to pick up the 2018/19 option on Jahlil Okafor‘s contract, something that will render the big man an unrestricted free agent this summer. Yet, sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter links) that Okafor prefers to not have to wait to change teams and may push for a buyout agreement with Philly.

Stein hears that Okafor is convinced that the team has had several workable deals on the table, though the Sixers have declined to make a move.

Okafor’s 2018/19 option was set to pay him $6.3MM and any team that acquires him in a trade this season wouldn’t be able to offer him a starting salary that goes beyond that figure in negotiations this summer.

The Duke product has seemingly been on the trade block since his rookie season with the club and his perceived trade value has fallen every year since.

Okafor has only seen action in one game this season—a game Joel Embiid sat out—and he made four of seven shots on his way to 10 points. The organization seems confident that Embiid can be the team’s center for the foreseeable future, evidenced by the unique long-term five-year extension it doled out to him earlier this month. Richaun Holmes and Amir Johnson also present barriers to playing time in Philadelphia, as Johnson has seen action at the five this season and Holmes should as well once he returns from his wrist injury.

The decision to decline Okafor’s option wasn’t solely based on his fit on the court. The Sixers are reportedly angling to make a splash next offseason and they want to maintain flexibility in order to do so.

Entering the 2015 draft, Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns were widely considered the two best prospects in the draft class and his fall to Philadelphia at three was a shocking development for many. Okafor has played 104 games with the Sixers since being drafted and it’s possible we’ve seen the last of him in a Philly uniform.

Stay tuned to Hoops Rumors for the latest on the Sixers, Jahlil Okafor, and potential landing spots for the big man.

Sixers Won’t Pick Up Jahlil Okafor’s 2018/19 Option

October 31st, 2017 at 3:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Just over two years after using the third overall pick to draft him, the Sixers have elected not to exercise Jahlil Okafor‘s team option for 2018/19, a team source tells Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) confirms that the 76ers will turn down Okafor’s fourth-year option.

Okafor, one of the most highly-regarded prospects of the 2015 draft class, enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Sixers back in 2015/16, averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.0 RPG in 53 games (48 starts). However, he saw his role with the club begin to decrease last season.

Even after Philadelphia traded Nerlens Noel to the Mavericks in February, the center position remained crowded, with Joel Embiid looking like a franchise player when he was healthy and Richaun Holmes emerging as a viable backup. This season, Amir Johnson and even Dario Saric have earned minutes at center, leaving no room in the rotation for Okafor.

As Neubeck details in his report, multiple members of the Sixers have “insisted privately” that creating cap flexibility for 2018 is a top priority for the club. Embiid’s new extension will kick in, and Robert Covington is expected to receive a significant raise as well, so declining Okafor’s option, which would have been worth about $6.3MM, will help the 76ers retain cap room for potential free agent targets.

While it’s possible Okafor will play out the year with the Sixers before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2018, the club has been working with the big man’s camp in an effort to find a viable trade. Today’s move may complicate those efforts.

With his option for 2018/19 not exercised, Okafor will be on an expiring contract, which figures to have an impact on what potential suitors are willing to offer for him. Unlike Noel, who was also traded in the final year of his contract, Okafor won’t be eligible for restricted free agency. Whichever team has him on its roster at the end of the season also won’t be able to offer Okafor a higher salary than $6.3MM, the value of his declined option.

Okafor’s rookie scale option was one of five that the Sixers had to decide on by today. Philadelphia exercised its 2018/19 options on Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Justin Anderson, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sixers Pick Up Four Options; Okafor In Limbo

October 31st, 2017 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers have exercised their 2018/19 rookie scale team options on four players, according to RealGM’s log of official NBA transactions. Philadelphia has picked up third-year options for Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, along with the fourth-year option for Justin Anderson.

That leaves Jahlil Okafor as the only player with a 2018/19 team option that has yet to be exercised. The Sixers could still pick up Okafor’s fourth-year option – which has a cap hit of about $6.3MM – at some point today. However, the club continues to explore potential trades involving the former third overall pick, and those trade talks could determine whether or not Okafor’s option gets exercised, tweets Derek Bodner of The Athletic.

Outside of Simmons’ option, which will count for about $6.4MM against the 76ers’ cap, the 2018/19 options picked up by the team so far are modest. Saric and and Anderson will have cap charges of about $2.5MM apiece, while Luwawu-Cabarrot’s will be a little over $1.5MM.

The decisions lock all four players in for the ’18/19 season, and Anderson will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2019, assuming he’s not extended during the 2018 offseason. Philadelphia will face fourth-year option decisions on Simmons, Saric, and Luwawu-Cabarrot a year from now.