Emeka Okafor last played in the NBA for the Wizards during the 2013 NBA season, and with averages of 9.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 26 minutes per contest, proved himself to be a legitimate starting center.
He missed all of last season after suffering a herniated disk in his neck, however, but was on the radar of teams that expected him to return in free agency this year.
While Okafor is reportedly healthy, he’s in no rush to return. And in fact, he may wait until the start of next season before deciding to do so.
From Marc Stein of ESPN.com:Veteran center Emeka Okafor, who is being tracked by numerous teams in search of frontcourt help, is giving strong consideration to delaying his comeback from a neck injury until next season, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that Okafor, who missed all of last season after suffering a herniated disk in his neck, is leaning toward waiting until the summer before committing to a new team to give himself more time to continue strength and conditioning work.
Okafor, 32, is “healthy,” according to one source, but is reluctant to rush back this season.Cleveland is one team in desperate need of front line help, especially now that Anderson Varejao has been lost for the season due to injury. The Heat and the Mavericks had also reportedly expressed interest, but it appears as though any team will now have to wait until next season to acquire the big man’s services.