MEXICO CITY _ Nets general manager Sean Marks took another major step in his rebuilding program to get younger and more talented by acquiring 6-11 center Jahlil Okafor as the centerpiece of a trade with the 76ers on Thursday.
The Nets will receive Okafor, perimeter shooter Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick via the 76ers in exchange for veteran forward Trevor Booker, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him $9.125 million this season. The trade first was reported by ESPN.
The Nets also requested waivers on guard Sean Kilpatrick.
"We are excited about the prospects of both Jahlil and Nik, as well as adding another future asset which will aid us in our continued roster development," Marks said in a statement. "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. We would also like to thank Trevor, Sean and their families for all of their contributions to our team and the Brooklyn community."
Booker was with the Nets in Mexico City, where they are scheduled to face the Thunder on Thursday night and the Heat on Saturday night, when reports of the deal surfaced. He confirmed the deal was done with a tweet that said: "It's been real Brooklyn. Will always have nothing but love for you. Loved my time in New York!!!"
The Nets, who famously gave up a slew of No. 1 picks in a 2012 trade with the Celtics for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce under previous general manager Billy King, now own the second and third overall picks from the 2015 NBA draft. They sent Brook Lopez to the Lakers in June for D'Angelo Russell, who was the second overall pick in 2015. Okafor was selected right after Russell by the 76ers.
But the emergence of center Joel Embiid made Okafor expendable. Earlier this season, Okafor requested to either be traded or bought out. As a result, he has appeared in only two games for the Sixers this season. In 105 career games, he has averaged 14.6 points and 5.9 rebounds. Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds in his rookie season.
Stauskas is a shooting guard who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 draft. He played only six games with the Sixers this season after they signed free agent J.J. Redick. During his career, Stauskas has averaged 7.3 points and shot 34.3 percent from three-point range.
Booker, a seventh-year power forward, averaged 10.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game for the Nets this season.
