Jahlil Okafor Wants a Buyout or Trade From the Sixers

Okafor said he wants the Sixers to buy him out or trade him.

The Sixers declined to pick up Jahlil Okafor's fourth-year option for $6.3 million yesterday, and today the No. 3 pick of the 2015 draft said that decision was the one he preferred. 

"Honestly, I didn’t want them to pick up my option," Okafor told reporters on Wednesday. "I’ve been going through a lot since I’ve been here, so the fact that I know that at the end of the season that I'll at least have an opportunity to play elsewhere, that's great."

Okafor said he asked team president Bryan Colangelo for a buyout or trade, but Colangelo refused the request.

"I've asked for a buyout," Okafor said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jessica Camerato. "I had a talk with Bryan about that yesterday, just because I want to play. I know that's not being here. I know a buyout is one of the options where I get an opportunity to play elsewhere and to get on the court. But Bryan didn't think that would be a good idea because he said then they would be giving me away to a team for free, but that's pretty much where we stand right now. I'm just worried about my career. I want to be on the court." 

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirerreports that the Celtics have expressed interest in Okafor, but are not willing to give up a lot to get him.

Okafor, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors over the past two seasons, has played in just one game this season. His tenure with the 76ers has soured after an impressive rookie season in which he averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds. He is no longer considered a core member of a promising Sixers team built around Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.

If he is not bought out or traded, Okafor, 21, will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.