The Philadelphia 76ers signed Delaware Blue Coats point guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract on Saturday. The Athletic’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
Who is Jeff Dowtin Jr?
The 26-year-old is no stranger to the NBA, having briefly played for the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Golden State Warriors before joining Nick Nurse’s Toronto Raptors last season. In Toronto, Dowtin averaged 10.4 minutes in 25 games, shooting 43.9% from the field but a solid 31.3% from three. After joining the Blue Coats this season, Dowtin’s averaged 18.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists.
The move comes just before the shorthanded 76ers take on a tough West Coast stretch. In addition to Joel Embiid remaining out for the time being, the team continues to miss defensive standouts Robert Covington and De’Anthony Melton.
What does his arrival mean for the 76ers?
While Dowtin’s been largely a scoring threat in the G-League, his rebounds skew heavily on the defensive side. Particularly against upcoming opponents like the Lakers, Clippers, and Suns, having athletic players willing to fight for the ball will be essential. With Kyle Lowry already having an impact in Philadelphia, it’s unsurprising that head coach Nick Nurse wants to tap into other players he knows may be capable of doing that.
The addition of a third two-way player may also signal a path to converting Ricky Council IV into a standard contract. NBA teams are only permitted three two-way players, and if the team needs to tap into another Blue Coats player for some added depth, converting Council would be the only way to do it.
While Dowtin Jr. may not be guaranteed playing time right away, the move gives the team a little boost heading into a tough stretch.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
