CAMDEN, N.J. \u2014 The 76ers\u2019 first \u2013 and thus far, only \u2013 move of the NBA free agency period was as a hedge if a second didn\u2019t occur. That is what has transpired at the Sixers\u2019 power forward spot.<\/p>\n
The Sixers have reportedly signed forward Trendon Watford to a two-year deal, insurance against being unable to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele. That came to pass when the Frenchman reportedly signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks Tuesday. Neither team has officially announced the signings.<\/p>\n
Retaining Yabusele was one of the 76ers\u2019 priorities, though they were limited in cap space as to what they could offer. Uncertainty over being able to retain guard Quentin Grimes, a restricted free agent, played into the offer to Yabusele, who signed as a free agent after five years overseas last offseason.<\/p>\n
The Knicks didn\u2019t break the bank, though, at two years and a reported $12 million. That would\u2019ve been within the Sixers\u2019 range, but it signals a slightly different orientation at power forward this year, with Watford, rookie Johni Broome and the possibility of using Adem Bona in a two-big system.<\/p>\n
Yabusele was great last year. In 70 games (43 starts), he averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He shot 32.1 percent from 3-point range and had a 51.3 effective FG percentage. The Sixers never got to see what Yabusele\u2019s spacing would look like next to a healthy Joel Embiid and Paul George, the three playing barely a dozen games together in an all-around awful season.<\/p>\n
Watford has a different game. He stands 6-9 and 240 pounds. On an equally woeful Brooklyn team, he averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 44 games. He\u2019s not going to stretch the floor like Yabusele, but he can shoot a little. Watford shot 33 percent from 3-point range, down from 39.7 percent in 2023-24. But he only averaged 1.1 attempts per game in that previous season and saw it rise to 2.0 per game last year. (Yabusele averaged 3.9 attempts.)<\/p>\n
Watford, a 24-year-old out of LSU, went undrafted and started his career in Portland for two seasons. Grimes remains the primary free-agent target. They also can bring back Eric Gordon on a more cap-friendly deal after Gordon declined his player option.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n
The 76ers announced their Summer League roster Tuesday, including rookies VJ Edgecombe, the third overall pick in last week\u2019s draft, and second-rounder Broome.<\/p>\n
Hunter Sallis, signed on a two-way contract, is also part of the team along with 2024 rookies Justin Edwards and Adem Bona. Jared McCain won\u2019t take part as he continues his rehab from last year\u2019s meniscus tear, but he was present for practice in Camden.<\/p>\n
The Sixers officially announced rookie deals for Edgecombe and Broome as well as Sallis\u2019 contract.<\/p>\n
The group will be coached by 76ers assistant TJ DiLeo. Summer League will start in Salt Lake City July 5-8, then head to Las Vegas July 10-16.<\/p>\n
Tuesday was the first workout at the team\u2019s facility. DiLeo came away impressed by the rookies.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis athleticism really stands out,\u201d DiLeo said of Edgecombe. \u201cYou see it on the defensive end, offensive end, in transition. He plays super hard and he\u2019s coachable. He\u2019s really trying to get the stuff that we\u2019re trying to put in early for Summer League.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Broome, DiLeo said, \u201cHe\u2019s got physicality, he plays hard, he\u2019s got a nose for the ball, really, on both ends of the court. His instincts are good. He\u2019s a guy that can play hard and play smart and play with instincts a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
DiLeo will lean on relative veterans Bona and Edwards for leadership, energy and communication. Bona led a group of bigs with Broome and Exhibit 10 signee Izan Almansa of Spain Tuesday, while Edgecombe worked closely with Edwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust little things on the floor, in different situations,\u201d Edgecombe said. \u201cSo that\u2019s been the main thing. I\u2019m just learning from everybody, even everyone on the coaching staff, teaching me something, on defense or offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without McCain, the squad is short on ball-handling. That will give Edgecombe a chance to play creator.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing more of a point guard, but also being aggressive, and being a great teammate,\u201d Edgecombe said of things he wants to work on. \u201cI always want to encourage my teammates at all times; doesn\u2019t matter, the flow of the game, I\u2019m always going to be an encouraging person. But definitely just be a point guard, continue shooting the ball, continue working on that, working on every little aspect of my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n
The Summer League roster includes Jalen Hood-Schifino and Alex Reese, who finished the season on short-term deals with the 76ers. Judah Mintz spent last year with Delaware.<\/p>\n
Among the summer invites are previously announced Saint Thomas, Jack Clark and Almansa. Fellow Exhibit 10 Igor Milicic is unable to participate due to injury.<\/p>\n
Joining the Cheltenham grad Clark among players of local interest are former Villanova guard Mark Armstrong and Archbishop Wood grad Andrew Funk.<\/p>\n
Armstrong spent two years at Villanova, departing in 2024. He went undrafted and signed with the Long Island Nets, where the 6-2 guard averaged 10.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23 games.<\/p>\n
Funk split his college career between Bucknell and Penn State. He\u2019s bounced between Denver and Chicago since going undrafted in 2023, getting a five-game cup of coffee in the NBA with the Bulls in 2024. The 6-5 guard averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists with the G League\u2019s Grand Rapids.<\/p>\n
Also on the roster is wing Jalen Slawson, who spent last year with the Osceola Magic of the G League and played 12 NBA games in 2023-24 with Sacramento. Keve Aluma is a 26-year-old power forward who spent three seasons playing professionally in Japan and South Korea. Landers Nolley finished his college career at Cincinnati in 2023.<\/p>\n
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