The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Three Ways To Optimize Two-Way Contracts

By Bret Stuter

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) 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 number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) and President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo (M) and number twenty-fourth overall draft pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (L) during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 02: Jahlil Okafor
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 02: Jahlil Okafor /

Option III: Enhance player skill-sets

In option III, the focus is specifically upon fit.  But in this assessment, you take a player who is grossly skewed in some skills, but underdeveloped in others. A great example of this is the 2016-2017 NBA season of Jahlil Okafor.

Do not misunderstand this option. Center Jahlil Okafor is an NBA level talent.  But the 2016-2017 season seemed to be regression, or not fully recovered, or simply a team that redesigned it’s schemes to fit new starting center Joel Embiid.

As such, Jahlil Okafor stepped backwards somewhat.

Basketball Clinic Approach

The difficult thing about a great rookie season is the expectation for an encore  That is doubly true for a rookie sensation who is coming off injury while competing for playing time.  Whether he rushed back too quickly or simply reaggravated the knee is not clear.  What is clear is that Jahlil Okafor’s play was visibly shaken at times.

Stepping back to the G-League gives Okafor the advantages of less pressure. It also allows the NBA team to steer his focus upon areas he needs to work on. Defense? Three-point shooting? Passing? Transition game?

Next: Joel Embiid, Dario Saric named to All-Rookie First Team

Any shortfalls at the NBA level can be sent back to the NBA G-League for minor tweaking. With these new Two-Way Contract options, while the NBA player works to improve, the team can call up a player to fill the roster spot until such time as health and fit have been stabilized.

Ultimately, the NBA must do more to fix the injuries/roster conflicts in the long 82 game season. But this is a great start.  And if the Philadelphia 76ers focus on these three ways to optimize the new rule changes, the team will line up for playoffs that much sooner.