The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers won’t extend Jahlil Okafor

By Bret Stuter

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Anzejs Pasecniks walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 25th overall by the Orlando Magic during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Anzejs Pasecniks walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 25th overall by the Orlando Magic during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers decided out with old and in with the new. While center Jahlil Okafor awaits the inevitable dismissal/trade, the team sealed his fate when they drafted center Anzejs Pasecniks in the 2017 NBA Draft

It all began in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Philadelphia 76ers had selected guard Markelle Fultz with the first pick and were waiting patiently for the right to draft in the second round.  As you recall, the team entered the draft with the 3rd, 36th, 39th, 46th, and 50th picks in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Now you might think this will talk about that trade of the third pick PLUS either the 2018 Los Angeles Lakers pick (1,6-30 protected) OR the better of either the 2019 Sacramento Kings Pick (1 pick protected) OR the Philadelphia 76ers pick (1 pick protected) to the Boston Celtics for the top pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. But I won’t.

76ers trade for 2017 NBA Draft pick 25 to select a center?

But I will talk about round one.  In fact, surprisingly, the Philadelphia 76ers did trade back into round one for the 25th pick.  To do so, the team traded 2020 draft assets.  How’d we do?

In the end, this looks very much like three second round picks in 2020 for a first round selection in 2017. But in the end, the team acquired a 7-foot-2 center by the name of Anzejs Pasecniks, a young center with incredible upside.  And for the 2017-2018 season, he is stashed internationally.

Fate sealed at 2017 25

But that sealed the fate of center Jahlil Okafor. On one hand, the very presence of Pasecniks as a future player for the Philadelphia 76ers was enough of a snowflake to start the landslide. On the other hand, his future is burying Okafor in a “he’s not our kind of guy” perspective.  In short, the Philadelphia 76ers have pulled the welcome mat right out from under Jahlil Okafor’s feet. The team has exercised options on every player not named Jahlil Okafor.

And that is where we are today.

So long big Jah

Did you see this coming? Well we did. But we hadn’t done the math on the cause. Now we have paused and taken a breath. The reality is that the team will be signing Pasecniks in 2018, and Jahlil Okafor is merely keeping his seat warm

Next: NBA Rumors – Philadelphia 76ers will get zilch trading Jahlil Okafor

I am extremely disappointed. Jahlil Okafor deserves much better. Unfortunately, his better days are elsewhere.  And this will be a move that will bite us in the ass in the future.