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According to multiple outlets, Jahlil Okafor has made his way to Boston to join the Philadelphia 76ers on their current road trip. He had missed the last two games on their schedule because the team was fearful of a possible injury derailing trade negotiations that seemed likely to lead to a completed deal within a short time span.
Confirmed Jahlil Okafor has joined the Sixers in Boston for game vs. Celtics tomorrow. He was not with the team in Charlotte Monday.
— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoCSN) February 15, 2017
This news, of course, can be interpreted a lot of different ways. For whatever the reason, perhaps the New Orleans Pelicans have lost interest. Maybe some new information revealed something unflattering about Okafor, the front office simply had a change of heart, a more promising trade option has become available or the Pelicans decided they didn’t want to acquiesce to Philly’s demands.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that the Chicago Bulls were closing in on a deal for Okafor.
Sources: A deal between Bulls and Sixers for Jahlil Okafor is close. If Bulls can't get it done Pelicans could swoop in and steal Okafor.
— Mike Ortiz Jr. (@xOrtiz4x) February 14, 2017
If this was an honest assessment by the source, maybe the Bulls have also decided to pass on Okafor for the same reasons as the Pelicans and any of the other previously linked interested teams. If not, maybe the above information was an effort by the 76ers to bring New Orleans back to the trade table because Bryan Colangelo is most enamored with the offers from the Pelicans.
Your guess is probably as good as mine, and we can speculate about this until the sun comes up. However, the important thing to note for now is that it sounds like a deal between the Pelicans and 76ers is no longer imminent. For those who disliked the idea of trading for Okafor from the start, consider it a small victory, but realize the trade deadline is still more than a week away.