Remember last Saturday night, when Brett Brown said he did not play Jahlil Okafor against the Heat because of trade rumors? All the signs were pointing to Okafor's being traded.

Seven days later, Okafor remains a Sixer at the All-Star break, but more information as to why the Sixers held Okafor out last week against Miami has emerged.

Okafor did not play against Miami because the Sixers and Portland Trail Blazers had a trade that was "close to happening," according to TNT's David Aldridge. Portland instead opted to trade with Denver for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick, per Aldridge.

Aldridge's report contradicts a previous report from The Ringer that suggested the Okafor trade talks were "stuck in gridlock" and the Sixers were dealing with just the Pelicans.

With five days until the Feb. 23 trade deadline, the Sixers still have time to move Okafor. On Saturday, the Mavericks were linked as a potential landing spot for Okafor. Add Dallas to the list that includes the Bulls and Pelicans. Both the Nuggets and Blazers were reportedly interested in Okafor, too, before making a trade themselves. Denver opted for Mason Plumlee, and Portland added its third first-round pick in the 2017 draft, which is believed to be loaded with talent.

It's been a bizarre week for the Sixers and Okafor. Okafor didn't make the trip to Charlotte last Monday, and then wasn't traded. He did travel to Boston for the Sixers' final game before the break with his future with the organization still unclear. An answer will come Thursday as to whether the Sixers can trade Okafor, or if they will have to wait until the offseason to solve their logjam in the middle with Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Okafor.

Stay tuned.