The Sixer Sense
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Jahlil Okafor’s knee soreness is a sore spot with Philadelphia 76ers

By Bret Stuter

CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been desaturated.) Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Elsa/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been desaturated.) Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been desaturated.) Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Elsa/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 25: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been desaturated.) Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses for a portrait during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Elsa/Getty Images) /

Summarizing Okafor knee issue

We started out with little information about Jahlil Okafor’s knee soreness, and the available options for the player, and the team, going forward. Thanks to your patience, and some helpful tweets and online medical websites, we have packaged the Jahlil Okafor knee issue into a surprisingly well wrapped package.  There are several details we can now be confident about:

Conclusion one: Jahlil Okafor’s knee pain may not go away anytime soon

This fact surprised me. Even with my background in healthcare, I had no idea that the odds of lingering pain in the injured knee is so common. But you can bet that NBA teams are very aware of this fact.

Lingering pain is inaccurate. Lingering SPORADIC pain is closer to the truth. Without seeing medical charts or graphs, there is no way to gauge the frequency or intensity of his knee flair-ups.  It may be a significant impact this season, or may be a minor subplot.  Right now, it’s hard to say.

Conclusion two: Trade rumors involving Jahlil Okafor’s present condition seem highly unlikely

While we have no way of gauging the knee’s impact of Jahlil Okafor, other NBA teams likely find it next to impossible.  And trade rumors begin simply from a casually placed “How is Jahlil Okafor’s knee?” between two NBA executives.

It’s a good story, but don’t look for any real activity until the knee pain subsides permanently.

Conclusion three: Jahlil Okafor is rededicated to basketball, and his upcoming season may be very positive

All of this brings me to the best conclusion of all.  If the knee pain negates any possiblities of trading the player, that leaves the Philadelphia 76ers no choice but to retain the young man for the duration of his rookie contract. If the early reports are true, and Jahlil Okafor’s leaner version is more adept to contributing to this team after all, this will be a happily ever after story.

Jahlil Okafor arrived to the NBA too young to carry the team.  Then he became too injured to contribute meaningfully. Hopefully, the upcoming season will sort everything out for both the player and the team.

Next: The future of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA Draft picks

On one hand, I blogged throughout Jahlil Okafor’s rookie season. The optimism and pressure for that young man to deliver was incredibly high. He was the team’s offense.  On the other hand, I blogged during Jahlil Okafor’s rookie season’s transgressions. And so, I was disappointed in the young man’s choices.  Now I blog during Jahlil Okafor’s effort to turn his NBA career around.

I’ll choose door number three.