Sixers mailbag: TLC’s future, an Embiid contingency plan, and more

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Markelle Fultz #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2017 Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Philadelphia won 95-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Markelle Fultz #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2017 Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Philadelphia won 95-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 30: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up prior to the game against the Utah Jazz on October 30, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 30: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up prior to the game against the Utah Jazz on October 30, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

What are we going to do with Okafor?

And the evergreen question is back.

Okafor, for what it’s worth, seems to be putting in the work needed to improve. He’s getting slimmer, while his work on the court is likely focused on expanding his game. Whether or not he’s able to sufficiently do so, however, is questionable to the highest degree.

Jah was unlucky. He entered the NBA right as players of his ilk were becoming stylistically irrelevant. Back-to-the-basket scorers with limited defense and iffy rebounding simply don’t provide value to NBA teams who are looking to not only increase their versatility offensively, but contain it on the other end.

Related Story: Okafor is untradeable at this point

The Sixers’ growing depth furthers Okafor’s devolvment on the depth chart as well. Embiid and Richaun Holmes have already established themselves as superior, while Amir Johnson — albeit on a one-year deal — likely saps even more potential playing time away. There’s not much room for Okafor to find a role in Philadelphia, and perhaps the only remedy for his faltering career is to get a fresh start elsewhere — somewhere were he’ll be given a chance to work through his kinks in legitimate minutes.

The problem then becomes whether or not the Sixers can get a deal done, which is likely their goal at this point in the process. Okafor’s game is irrelevant to the point that most teams won’t want to give up anything of remote value in return. We saw Nerlens Noel’s value take a sizable dive in the last year of his contract, and Jah’s is already well beyond that point.

Next: LaVar Ball is trolling us all

Philadelphia wants to move Okafor, and he probably wants to be traded himself. After all the professionalism he has shown in the midst of excessive and somewhat unfair adversity, he deserves that second chance. Whether it be for second round picks, and actual backup, or cash considerations, there’s something out there. The Sixers just have to dig in and find it.