In 2015, the Philadelphia 76ers selected 6-foot-10 center Jahlil Okafor of Duke with the No. 3 overall pick of the draft. After a basketball odyssey that sent him to four NBA cities, China and Mexico, Okafor could wind up back in Philadelphia.
The Delaware Blue Coats announced Saturday night that they acquired the returning player rights to Okafor and three other players — including Shabazz Napier, a former UConn star and first-round pick in 2014 — from the Mexico City Capitanes for three players.
The Blue Coats are the G League affiliate of the 76ers. The Capitanes also are a G League member.
Okafor had a strong rookie season for Philadelphia, averaging 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 53 games (48 starts). But a sophomore slump, off-court issues and injuries soured the Sixers on Okafor, and he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He also played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons, and in all, he averaged 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 247 career NBA games (116 starts).
In 15 games in Mexico City this season, the 27-year-old Okafor averaged 20.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 28.8 minutes per game.
In addition to the rights to Okafor and Napier, the Blue Coats also acquired the rights to Bruno Caboclo and Matt Mooney in exchange for the rights to Skylar Mays, Justin Robinson and Raphiael Putney.
–Field Level Media
