The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Should Look At D-League Talent

By Pete Sawan

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the potential for another roster spot to open up, the Philadelphia 76ers should consider filling that spot with the plethora of D-League prospects.

Now that the Philadelphia 76ers have made their trades, they could have a roster spot open up. Guys like Andrew Bogut and Tiago Splitter will most likely negotiate buyouts. Thus, two potential roster spots could and should open up.

Once the Philadelphia 76ers and Andrew Bogut negotiate a buyout, he can sign with any team other than the Dallas Mavericks. This should open up a roster spot for the Sixers to re-sign Chasson Randle after having to take him off of the team to complete trades. So, that leaves one more spot.

More from The Sixer Sense

Now, the Sixers could just as easily hold on to Tiago Splitter, but this wouldn’t make sense. Philadelphia has plenty of serviceable bigs on the roster, and they really don’t need Splitter. If anything, getting him off the roster would make the most sense.

Hypothetically, let’s just say that both spots become available. Logically, Chasson Randle gets his spot back. But, who gets the last spot on the roster? Does that open up to free agents, or should the Sixers look to acquire talent from the D-League?

Sixers Tend to Find Quality Talent

As I’ve discussed before, the D-League has quality contributors within the league. Many of these players simply need that one opportunity to excel. In most cases, these players get overlooked and never truly flourish.

Now, the Sixers could easily go to the D-League to fill this void. The D-League has such a wide variety of talent that the Sixers can’t go wrong. The key here lies in the kind of player that they want. Do they want a scorer, a play-maker, or a project 3-and-D player? Thus, the talent exists.

Must Read: The Nerlens Noel Trade In Review

In a league where guys can fall in and out of favor at the blink of an eye, the D-League makes finding replacements pretty easy. Basically, players fighting for a roster spot tend to give the most effort. The Sixers had a player like that in T.J. McConnell. Although not a D-League prospect, McConnell earned the respect of coach Brett Brown with his hustle and effort.

Oddly enough, the Sixers have shown expertise in finding those diamonds in the rough. The D-League itself allows their players to learn the pro-style game, while also pitting them against quality talent. The Sixers found arguably their best gem of “The Process” in Robert Covington in the D-League.

Obviously, Robert Covington has flourished as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Interestingly enough, he has gone from simply a shooter to one of the best defenders in the league. This season, Covington sits at fourth in the league in steals with 103 in total. It never hurts to find another Covington.

Plenty of Talented Guys Remain

Most of the quality D-League talents have not gotten love, they haven’t gotten the call up to the big time. That doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t get the opportunity.

The NBA thrives when these underdogs make it. It makes the NBA one of the most interesting leagues in all of sports. Guys like Danny Green and Gerald Green have gone to the D-League and upon call-ups, become real contributors. The Sixers can easily find a guy like that.

Must Read: Richaun Holmes, You Now Have The Floor

Guys like Quinn Cook, Vander Blue, and Abdel Nader still need NBA homes. For the most part, they have not received enough attention. If anything, the Sixers should consider taking them on simply for the sake of potential.

Considering the fact that the Sixers have nothing to compete for this season, experimenting could help, and bringing in an extra player can’t hurt. For instance, the Sixers still need guards who can score once Ben Simmons returns. They can mix and match guys to see what will fit down the line. Guys like Quinn Cook and Vander Blue fit the bill.

On the other hand, the Sixers could look at scoring wings who have the potential to become great defenders. They already have Robert Covington. But, why not find another RoCo? You can never have too many Covingtons. Abdel Nader could become that guy, he already has the scoring prowess. Like Covington, under coach Brett Brown he can evolve into a quality defender.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Should Hold On to Jahlil Okafor

So, for the rest of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers should target D-League prospects. 10-Day contracts allow NBA teams to mix and match without it hurting their cap space. It’s a cost-efficient method of improving your roster. Hopefully, the Sixers can find that piece that can help them down the line.