The Philadelphia 76ers may be weeks away from adding an exciting young talent but they’re still doing their due diligence on the veteran market.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, the Sixers are working out former top-ten pick Dennis Smith Jr. as part of a two-day veteran minicamp. Smith, 27, was initially drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth overall pick in 2017. Since then, he has bounced around between Dallas, New York, Detroit, Portland, Charlotte, and most recently Brooklyn, where he spent the majority of the 2023-24 season.
Since the end of the regular season, the Sixers have preached a desire to get young and more athletic. Smith is a well-traveled veteran, which would seem to go against that notion, but he is just entering his age-28 season, a significant difference compared to other Philadelphia guards Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon.
While Smith struggles as a shooter, a career 29.8% marksman from deep, he remains a plus-athlete and equally useful to the Sixers, a capable passer and defender.
Pompey also noted several other veterans in attendance, including Eugene Omoruyi, Malcolm Hill, Adama Sanago, Alondes Williams, Malik Williams, Armando Bacot, Javonte Cooke, Judah Mintz and Leaky Black.
Of those names, Judah Mintz stands out. Mintz spent last season in the Sixers’ organization playing for the G League Delaware Blue Coats after showing out with Philadelphia’s Summer League team earlier in the year.
