Okafor says 76ers denied buyout, 'not sure' if team cares about his future

Being completely professional and keeping his concerns in-house hasn't worked, so Jahlil Okafor is taking another approach.

Okafor wanted to discuss a buyout after his player option for 2017-18 wasn't picked up, but the Philadelphia 76ers have rejected Okafor's request. They're hoping to get something in return for the former No. 3 pick and are evidently trying to wait him out.

He's not about to waste any more time with a team that clearly doesn't want him, and spelled out his situation very clearly in talking to the press Wednesday.

"(Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo) didn’t think (a buyout) would be a great idea, because he said he would be giving me away to a team for free," Okafor told Keith Pompey of Philly.com. "But that’s pretty much where we stand right now."

He added: "That’s where we stand today because you waited so long to trade me. There’s nothing else to do. I’m not playing here. At the end of this season, I’m an unrestricted free agent.

"So I want to get on the court and play after this."

In fairness to Colangelo, he inherited a messy situation from former Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie with three centers picked in consecutive drafts who all wanted to play. Once Joel Embiid distinguished himself from the pack, Okafor and Nerlens Noel had to find new homes.

Okafor and Noel took different approaches to their predicaments last season. Noel made it clear from the jump that he wanted out and was eventually shipped to the Dallas Mavericks for two second-round picks. Okafor stayed quiet while the Sixers shopped him, but they've had two seasons to reach a deal and he's still stuck.

The current situation is simply untenable. A completely healthy Okafor is rotting on the bench with just one appearance all season while the Sixers move forward with Embiid as their starter and veteran Amir Johnson as the backup.

Okafor isn't interested in wasting his time and simply hopes for the Sixers to move on if they're not going to let him play.

"I tried to do everything the right way. I tried to be professional; I will continue to be professional. But at some point, I have to defend myself, and this is my career. I’m not sure if (Colangelo) cares about that. I think that’s evident at this point," Okafor said.

"But at some point, as people, on a personal level, you would hope, let’s get Jah out of here. Let him go play somewhere because I’m 21. I’m healthy. I’m trying to get on the right path of my career."