Just when you thought the things got silent on NBA market, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets decided to shake things up. The 76ers have traded center Jahlil Okafor, guard Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for power forward Trevor Booker.
The third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft Jahlil Okafor fell out of favor with the 76ers this season, playing in just two games this season. With the emergence of star center Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, Okafor first lost his place in the team’s starting lineup and then in the rotation as well. Recently, the player and his agent asked the team to trade him or to try and reach a buyout agreement. Okafor played in 105 games for the 76ers and averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
In Stauskas, the Nets received another former lottery draft pick, since he was drafted eighth overall in the 2014 NBA draft. The team hopes that the two players can reach their full potential in Brooklyn and play an important part in the new system the Nets are building.
“This trade provides us with a good opportunity to bring in two young players who were high picks in recent drafts and give them a chance to succeed in our system,” – said Nets general manager Sean Marks in a statement.
Finally, Philadelphia 76ers acquired a veteran forward in Booker, who will be able to provide leadership to their young core. He was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and traded to Washington Wizards on the draft night. After spending four years in Washington, mostly as a bench player, Booker signed with the Utah Jazz before coming to Brooklyn in 2016. Last season he averaged 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, all career highs.
