Report: Pelicans, Emeka Okafor finalizing 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans are in the process of finalizing a 10-day contract with free agent Emeka Okafor, sources told The Vertical's Shams Charania.

The news would mark Okafor's return to the NBA after a nearly five-year absence. The 35-year-old has been playing with the G League's Delaware 87ers in hopes of an NBA comeback since being cut out of training camp by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft behind Dwight Howard, Okafor was a solid big man for nine seasons with Charlotte, New Orleans, and the Washington Wizards before back issues derailed his career.

NBA 10-day contracts came online Jan. 5. The short deal will give the Pelicans a look at what Okafor can do after they reportedly lost out on free agent Greg Monroe on Friday. Having added Nikola Mirotic this past week, New Orleans appears to have temporarily patched up its frontcourt following DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending injury.