Sixers prepare for preseason with a pair of roster moves
Basketball is finally back! It’s been a long road but tomorrow night will see the Sixers take on the Boston Celtics in a preseason showdown. There will be plenty to watch tomorrow night, but there will be two players no longer on the team’s radar.
Derrick Walton Jr.
An undrafted free agent in 2017, Derrick Walton Jr. signed his first contract with the Miami Heat. After making a little impact and spending time in the G-league, he took his talent overseas.
His return to the NBA was under new Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers. Walton played in 23 games for the Clippers last year, averaging 2.2 points per game. Rivers likely brought him in for Training Camp as a player he was relatively high on, intrigued to see how he’d fit a different team.
Walton brought some impressive 3-point prowess to the table (41.5% from beyond the arc in the NBA), but not much else. His prior experience with Rivers and ability to knock down a three was certainly worth taking a shot on, but with the guard depth being filled to the brim with shooters, it was always going to be an uphill battle, and the two-way contracts had already been designated, leaving him without much wriggle room.
Ryan Broekhoff
The Philadelphia 76ers brought back a familiar face in the way of veteran guard/forward Ryan Broekhoff just 20 days ago. He’s now looking for another team again.
Broekhoff’s wife tested positive for COVID-19 right before the Orlando bubble restart, and with a small child at home, he was forced to make a tough decision and opt out of the season’s final few games. After a coaching change saw him moved on, Doc Rivers brought back the perimeter threat for another rodeo.
He’s a career .403% from 3-point range and averages 4 points per game through two seasons with the Mavericks. Ultimately, with Danny Green and Seth Curry manning the wings, this was always going to be a move to fill the roster.
There’s notable familiarity between Broekhoff and the Sixers and should the need for a depth shooter arise, I’m sure he’d be one of the first names they turn to. For now though, the roster is set.
Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
