Jahlil Okafor has grown frustrated of sitting in the back of the Philadelphia 76ers' bench, playing in only two of the team's 18 games this season.
The Sixers front office has made its desire to move on from the big man in the midst of the logjam at center, which has presented itself since last year. However, the 21-year-old center has already racked up 16 DNPs this season and teams have shown no willingness to jump at the chance to trade for him.
The Sixers has rolled pretty in November, going 8-3 for the month, but their former No. 3 overall pick's only action has been getting up from his warm seat on the bench to high-five his teammates during timeouts.
“I would like for them to just send me somewhere where I can get an opportunity,” Okafor told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. “I've done everything they've asked of me and I would just like to get an opportunity to play with a trade or a buyout. I just hope something happens quickly.”
Jahlil Okafor has handled his trade request as professionally as any player could have, being patient through the early get-go, but team president Bryan Colangelo seems to want to wait until the Feb. 2 trade deadline, which would allow him to bundle Okafor with another player and reap the most in return for his troubles.
The big man's durability has been put into question, as he underwent a knee surgery which ended his 2015-16 season despite his little activity. But the 6-foot-11 big dipper returned 20 pounds lighter, more fit and with nimbler footwork on both ends. Unfortunately, these efforts have, of course, gone unnoticed given his total 25 minutes on the court this season.
“This is my third year in the NBA, and I know it's a business,” said Okafor. “I don't know if it's fair or not, but in talking to other people in the NBA, talking to retired players, one thing I've heard them say is that what's going on with me isn't right and they've never seen anything like this before.
“I know it's business, but in my eyes, I don't know if it's good business.”
Colangelo refused any trade proposal that could sear into the Sixers' $15.1 million in salary-cap space prior to Nov. 15, planning to use it as part of Robert Covington's contract extension and renegotiation of this year's contract. That limited the Sixers to straight swaps that didn't go over Okafor's $5 million salary, or less — making an already tough market for him that much tougher.
Jahlil Okafor is still 21 years old and capable of having influence on a roster that doesn't have this logjam with Joel Embiid and Richaun Holmes getting the minutes at center.
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