The Sixer Sense
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Trading Jahlil Okafor Could Parallel The Charles Barkley Fiasco

By Bret Stuter

Mar 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers special advisor Jerry Colangelo (M) sits courtside during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards won 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers special advisor Jerry Colangelo (M) sits courtside during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Wells Fargo Center. The Washington Wizards won 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo during a press conference after being named special advisor for the Philadelphia 76ers before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Jerry Colangelo during a press conference after being named special advisor for the Philadelphia 76ers before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Don’t Stop Believing

Wait a minute.  The guy who fleeced the Philadelphia 76ers all those years ago, Jerry Colangelo, has a message to get you through the dark moments now, to help you resist the urge to just start shedding the ballast of the current roster in a desperate hope to find buoyancy in a new lineup, a new roster.

"I’m a firm believer that basketball is the greatest team game ever invented. The excitement comes from knowing, with my experience, how players develop. Where are they going to be at 22 or 24 or 26? We have a bright, bright future. We’re watching young players develop. We’re anticipating a lot of good things to happen in the very near future. If the stars are aligned and you have a little bit of luck, we could turn this thing around much faster, much quicker than people seem to believe it’s going to take. When this opportunity presented itself, I saw it as a challenge. I saw it as someone who believed that I had something to offer the organization in the way of credibility, in the way of experience. And I was glad to come in and share and be part of something around. And I believe this is a situation that is a lot closer than people think. If you treat people well, you give people room and the ability to make decisions, and you create a team effort – and it starts at the top, and it permeates throughout an organization – I think that’s really the way you build a franchise. I can’t over-emphasize how important fan support is to a franchise. And I’m asking you to continue to support this franchise. It’s very, very important for us at this critical time. A new step in our journey. The commitment is there, I can promise you that. I’ll do everything in my power to help make this successful and as quick as possible without jeopardizing our future. I have a personal request. I am saying to you: Don’t give it up. There’s one way to go, and that’s up, and it’s going to be fun building it. – Jerry Colangelo"

The urgency to trade Jahlil Okafor is as artificial as the urgency to trade Charles Barkley was so many years ago.  If we wait, we might find the answer delivers itself to our doorstep, rather than knock at the doors of each NBA team until one opens.  If we wait, the only risk we incur is the risk of discovering that Jahlil Okafor is a solid core member of the championship team we have tried for so long to build.

Next: Shaq Guarantees Sixers Won't Draft Simmons in 2016 NBA Draft

There is a time to cast off, and a time to stay close.  This is the time to rally around our players.  If we believe, they won’t have any choice but to believe as well.  We’ve come too far to stop believing now.