By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly Staff 
Talks of a trade involving Sixers' center Jahlil Okafor have ramped up in the past few days, all stemming from Okafor not playing in last night's game vs. the Miami Heat. Today, one trade involving two teams who were previously in the hunt for the Sixers' big man went down.
The Blazers and the Nuggets pulled off a trade that sent Mason Plumlee and a 2018 second-round pick to Denver for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-rounder. According to Keith Pompey from the Inquirer, talks with Denver in regards to trading for Okafor are now officially over.
Source: Sixers' trade talks with Denver Nuggets have ceased https://t.co/cmYGn9RIDJ via @phillysport
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 12, 2017
It was tough to figure out if the Blazers would still be keen on a deal to go for Okafor, especially after grabbing Nurkic, but now it's looking like the race could be exclusively on between the front-runners Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans. That doesn't mean the Blazers or completely ruled out, however. Anything can happen as the Trade Deadline inches closer.
Source: Between CHI and NOP, but POR getting Nurkic ruined PHI plans for a 3 way bidding war for Okafor. PHI still motivated to move him.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 12, 2017
The Pelicans were the team last week with high intentions on grabbing Okafor, but those talks decreased as the week went on. The Bulls were a team that were in intense talks a couple of weeks ago, but now it seems like they are the number-one suitor for the center.
Alex Kennedy from Hoops Hype, reports there could be another possible interested team along with CHI/NOR, but the identity of that team remains silent for the time being.
With POR/DEN acquiring centers, it seems the Bulls and Pelicans are the teams to watch for an Okafor deal. Another team could enter mix too.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 12, 2017
So for the time being, with a trade already surfacing between two of the teams interested in Okafor, it looks to be like it'll be Chicago and New Orleans battling it out for a piece of Jahlil Okafor in the coming days. The question that lingers however, isn't what team will make a move for the Sixers' big-man, but more so which players will be heading to Philadelphia in exchange.
Sports Talk Philly and it's contributors will keep everyone informed as the days progress and as more news unfolds involving Okafor and any possible trade rumors that may come up.
