Full transcript: Jahlil Okafor sounds off on not being traded, asking for a buyout
Rich Hofmann
1 hour ago
For the Sixers, the big news on Tuesday was
the team declining Jahlil Okafor’s 2018-19 option with an eye on creating flexibility moving forward.
Since being selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Okafor’s tenure in Philadelphia has been rocky. There were multiple off-court incidents that added more embarrassment to the Sixers’ 10-72 season his rookie year. Last season, with Joel Embiid finally healthy, he was caught in the middle of a big-man logjam with Embiid and a disgruntled Nerlens Noel. Okafor's name was in plenty of rumors around last year’s trade deadline, but a deal never materialized.
After the early off-court stumbles during his rookie season, Okafor has generally been very professional handling what at times has been a trying situation.
And to begin this season, Okafor has been glued to the bench with veteran Amir Johnson getting the backup minutes behind Embiid. Now that his option has been declined for next season, Okafor spoke candidly about the entire situation after the morning shootaround on Wednesday, in particular when offering criticism for Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo. We'll have some more analysis later, but for now, here is the transcript.
What were your thoughts on the Sixers not picking up your option?
Okafor: “I was fine with that. I honestly didn’t want them to pick up my option. 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. Now I’m just in a position to where, how can I get on the court? That’s not happening here and I want to play. And Bryan knows that, I’ve talked with him about it. And now it’s tough because my option didn’t get picked up. Teams are not really looking to give up anything when somebody can walk out of the door at the end of the season. So it puts me in a tough spot because I want to be on the court. This is my life, this is my career, and I’m not getting an opportunity here, which is fine. The team looks great and I’m not a part of that. They’re going to continue to do great things, but at the same time, I want to play.”
Are you hopeful that a buyout could come about?
“I’ve asked for a buyout. I talked to Bryan about that yesterday just because I want to play. … I know a buyout is one of the options where I get an opportunity to play elsewhere and to get on the court. Bryan didn’t think that would be a good idea because he said that he’d be giving me away to a team for free. That’s pretty much where we stand right now. I’m just worried about my career. I want to be on the court, that’s pretty much it.”
What was the turning point for wanting a buyout?
“Yesterday. I didn’t expect November 1st to hit, that I would be here. That’s why these past few weeks when we got asked the question about the rotation and stuff like that, I’ve been calm because I didn’t think I would still be here today. I didn’t think that Bryan would keep me honestly. But here I am, November 1st I’m still here and looking to play somewhere. I’m 21, I’m healthy, and I’m trying to get on the court.”
How soon would you like a buyout?
“As soon as possible. A buyout or a trade, a buyout isn’t the only option. I want to be on the court and that’s not happening here. It could be a buyout, it could be a trade, I just want something to happen rather quickly.”
What was the team’s reaction?
“I only talked about it with Bryan and he just said that he felt that if he bought me out, another team would be getting me for free. But that’s where we stand today, because he waited so long to trade me. There’s nothing else to do. I’m not playing here and at the end of this season, I’m an unrestricted free agent. I want to be on the court and play.”
Is it frustrating because you did everything the right way?
“Exactly.”
Nerlens took a different approach.
“It worked out for him.”
You were a trooper, and now you’re still here.
“I’ve tried to everything the right way, I’ve tried to be professional. I’m going to continue to be professional, but at some point, I have to defend myself. And this is my career, and I’m not sure he cares about that. I think that’s kind of evident at this point. I understand it’s a business, you’re going to do what’s best for the organization. But at some point as people, from a personal level, you would hope, ‘OK, let’s get Jah out of here.’ Let him go play somewhere, because I’m 21, I’m healthy, and I’m trying to get on the right path of my career.”
Do you feel there were deals they should’ve taken?
“Yeah, talking with my agent, there were definitely deals on the table. Bryan didn’t deem they were fair, which I understand, I’m a number three pick. But at the same time, that’s what teams were offering. Me and my agent started getting the hint that they weren’t going to offer more, so it’s rather that you’re going to make a move on it or not. And he waited too long, and now I’m here today. I’m not saying a trade is impossible, but I just know it’s going to be really difficult knowing that I’m an unrestricted free agent after the season.”
There was a logjam from the start. How did you envision it would work out?
“When I first got here, we weren’t the best team and it was just Nerlens and I. Joel wasn’t healthy, so I was on the court, I was playing. I really didn’t have any complaints, that’s all I wanted to do was just play. That’s why I made such drastic changes this summer just to get healthy and get to where I am today. But I’m not getting the opportunity to play. So when I first got here, I wasn’t really tripping because I was still playing.”
