Jahlil Okafor badly wants a buyout from the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Boston Celtics are a possible destination for him if he receives it. The problem is Philly isn’t too keen on the idea of a buyout.
The Sixers on Tuesday declined Okafor’s fourth-year option, which will make him a free agent after the season. However, Philly retains his rights for this season even though they’re not playing him a ton. The reason they don’t want to buy him out is because then they’d be giving him away, compared to if they traded him.
“Bryan (Colangelo) didn’t think [a buyout] would be a great idea,” Okafor said. “Because he said he would be giving me away to a team for free. But that’s pretty much where we stand right now.”
The Toronto Raptors are a team with whom the Sixers had trade talks involving Okafor, but that deal did not materialize. Now Sixers reporter Keith Pompey of Philly.com says the Celtics would be a likely landing spot for Okafor if he is bought out.
Assuming @JahlilOkafor did get a buyout, the #Celtics would be the most likely destination for the center.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 1, 2017
The Cs have expressed a lot of interest and have a disabled player exception. #Sixers are aware of that, perhaps that's why no buyout. https://t.co/xsp5h6VNVO
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 1, 2017
Because Philly is intent on competing in the East, they wouldn’t be wild about seeing their former No. 3 overall pick go to a rival in Boston. That’s probably why they’re in no rush to buy out the big man.
