NBA GM's like Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric

In their annual preseason survey, the NBA's general managers revealed that they viewed a couple of the Sixers' young players pretty highly.

Jahlil Okafor: Early Rookie of the Year favorite

Add The Starters (except Skeets) to the list of people who think Jahlil Okafor will win the Rookie of the Year award for the 2015-16 NBA season. His own peers do, and a host of other media members do as well.

I personally think Jahlil will win, strictly based off of usage percentage, and the Sixers' lack of other offensive options. Who else is really going to score the ball besides Jah and Bobby Buckets? He is going to get a ton of touches, and won't have to sacrifice minutes to a veteran presence, as Anthony-Towns may in Minnesota. Okafor will certainly hit his rookie lumps at points throughout the season, but he will be able to produce and put up points right away.

Mudiay is a good choice; as a point guard he will have the ball in his hands a lot, and thus an increased opportunity to produce, a la Michael Carter-Williams. Okafor is just such a polished (offensive) player for his age, he seems tailor made for the ROY.

Robert Covington poised for a breakout season

At last season's start, Robert Covington was largely unknown across the league's landscape. By mid season, he had turned some heads and was a participant in the festivities at All-Star weekend. This season, the man known as Bobby Buckets has an opportunity to really make a name for himself. With a contract that pays him exactly a million dollars at a time when players with similar skill sets are inking multi-million dollar deals, Covington could prove to be the steal of the season.   

Heading into his third season, Covington has the advantage of stability for the first time. Knowing he has a starting spot secured is a far cry from how his season began last year when he was waived by the Rockets in late October and faced the prospect of another D-League stint. The confidence that comes with having a spot in the starting five locked down, along with his growing familiarity with the Sixers system, should work in Ro-Co's favor in his second season with the Sixers. 

Sixers 2015-16 schedule breakdown

In case you were curious. 

A slimmed-down Jahlil Okafor ready for his rookie season

High expectations exist for Jahlil Okafor’s rookie season. He was labeled by many to be the most ‘NBA-ready’ player in the 2015 Draft, and his peers voted him most likely to be the league’s Rookie of the Year this season.

Okafor is a dominant low post player, who has found success at every level. Equipped with an extremely advanced offensive arsenal, a soft touch that projects well professionally, and an innate feel for the game, Okafor is expected to find success (individual), at least offensively, almost immediately. With a dearth of potentially dominant post-oriented players, Okafor could really develop into a nightmare matchup for defense.

Tim Duncan is more durable than Derrick Rose

The numbers speak for themselves.

Image via ESPN

Stephon Marbury calls out Michael Jordan for being 'greedy'

Image via Bleacher Report. 

 Does he have a point?

Marbury will be re-releasing his line of $15 basketball sneakers, Starbury, in the near future, and he says that his shoes are made in the same factory as Jordan's.

Governor of Ohio wants the Cavaliers to sign Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson hasn't played NBA basketball in several seasons, and he is officially eligible for Hall-of-Fame induction next summer, but rumors of his return to basketball persist. Consider the governor of Ohio among those that would like to see 'The Answer' back in the NBA and suiting up alongside LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.

When asked by TMZ about the Iverson-to-Cleveland rumors, and  if Iverson would be given an opportunity in Cleveland, governor John Kasich replied:

"That's been a rumor. I'd love to have Iverson in Cleveland. I'm for it!"

Unfortunately, Kasich has no control over the Cavaliers' basketball operations, and an Iverson return at this point is unlikely to say the least. Although it sure would be fun to see A.I. balling alongside LeBron on a team talented enough to take home a title.

Check out the original report and video from TMZ here.