Jahlil Okafor has become a far more productive player since the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Ish Smith.

Okafor has now scored 20 or more points in three straight games and four of his past five.

Okafor now has a True Shooting Percentage of 51.8 percent for the season.

Since Smith was added on December 24th, Okafor has a usage rate of 28.4 percent and a true shooting percentage of 58.5 percent. 

There have been 9 rookies who have had at least a 27 percent usage rate in their rookie season since the start of the 2000-01 season, and Okafor's 51.8 percent true shooting percentage places him just about right in the middle of that pack, just barely below Kevin Durant's 51.9 percent and ahead of Carmelo Anthony (50.9), LeBron James (48.8), and DeMarcus Cousins (48.4).

Jerry Colangelo believes the Philadelphia 76ers will improve their record sooner rather than later. Colangelo also admitted that Sam Hinkie has done a good job of accumulating assets.

"There's no guarantee, but the thing you have to do is give people hope," Colangelo said to reporters after attending the Sixers practice at PCOM. "This isn't like, let's look down the road five years and see where we are. No, I don't see that at all. I see the opportunity here to get some big things done over the next year."

Colangelo was hired to help Hinkie accelerate his timeline.

"There's one way to go here and that's up," Colangelo said. "I'm very optimistic [and], you've got to be a little bit lucky, too, in terms of all the things I'm talking about. I use the expression, 'The stars have to be aligned,' and if we have a good alignment, it could happen in '16. So, we could have a turnaround in one year that would surprise people."

Hinkie has been to Phoenix several times to confer with Colangelo.

"As far as the plan, whatever people think the plan is, nothing is changing as far as a course," Colangelo said. "The reality is, and I've come to understand this, that Sam has really done a great job of accumulating assets. Now, it's a matter of when do you pull the trigger on using all those assets. So, as I look at the board, if you will, I see some things that could happen sooner than later."

Joel Embiid is leaving Wasserman Media Group for Leon Rose.

Rose is based in New Jersey and represents Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, amongst others.

Rose was also the agent for Allen Iverson.

Christian Wood has cleared waivers following his release this week by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wood was released to clear a roster spot for Elton Brand.

Wood has joined the Delaware 87ers for the D-League Showcase.

Kendall Marshall's father, Dennis Marshall, wrote on Twitter that white players are getting more chances on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Marshall's playing time has been significantly reduced.

"I always said there was racism in sports," Marshall tweeted on a Twitter account that has since been deleted.

Dennis Marshall went on to say, using an expletive, that white players are getting more chances even when they aren't playing well. He also took a not-so-veiled shot at struggling Nik Stauskas and his firm spot in the rotation.

"How are you a 'shooter' and shooting 27 percent from three?" Marshall tweeted. "Can't guard but play a lot. What do you think the reason is?"

"That's not coming out of my mouth. That's not my social media," he said. "He's a grown man. It was obviously the wrong time and place to say it, but he said it. He's apologized for it since."

Dennis Marshall later apologized on Twitter.

"I am ashamed and embarrassed by my actions. I have sent a letter of apology to the Sixers," he wrote.

That was good enough for his son.

"Me and him, we go at it sometimes," Kendall Marshall said. "He knows he was wrong. He apologized for it. Coach already told me that he understands it has nothing to do with me. We're good now."

The Philadelphia 76ers will release Christian Wood to create a roster spot for Elton Brand.

Wood went undrafted out of UNLV in 2015.

Wood made 14 appearances for the 76ers and nine in the D-League with the 87ers. In the D-League, Wood has a PER of 20.1.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Elton Brand.

Brand signed with the 76ers during the 2008 offseason.

Brand spent the past two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and announced his retirement in August.

"I think Jerry Colangelo pushed this forward the most," said Brett Brown.