Out of the blue, reports surface that the Philadelphia 76ers are oh-so-close to re-signing Sergio Rodriguez to a three-year deal for $12 million
Wow. With 15 players signed, most projections for the Philadelphia 76ers have come to a crawl. The focus is now on how to fit so many into meaningful roles with the team in the 2017-2018 season. So far, one-and-done contract Sergio Rodriguez’s career for the Philadelphia 76ers seemed to be all but over. History. Finado
Not so fast my friend!
In a social media tweet that rocked me out of my chair, Eurohoops reports that the Philadelphia 76ers are very close to a three-year, $12 million deal to keep “El Chacho” as a Philadelphia 76ers player for the foreseeable future .
#NBA exclusive by @nikosvarlas - @SergioRodriguez and the @sixers near a 3 years, $12 m. deal https://t.co/3SALjHHxZV
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 13, 2017
Now wait a gosh-darned minute! What gives?
Curve ball
Isn’t this the same roster that already has a glut of backcourt players? So much so that the team has shown signs of pushing both shooting guards Furkan Korkmaz and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot out to the small forward position to relieve some minutes logjams.
Sergio Rodriguez is versatile enough. He can play both point and shooting guards for the team. He has a 36.5 percent three-point shot which is better than the team average, And in 22.3 minutes average, he can dish out 5.1 assists and score 7.8 points.
But of the 2016-2017 roster, he seemed like the most painless farewell.
Follow the money trail
But there is a method to the madness. And the key may be all about “affordability”. The Philadelphia 76ers are entering the phase where they must land solid role players inexpensively, so that they can dangle serious coin under the noses of star players. While it is still early, can the team make a run to retain J.J. Redick if he plays lights out this year? Can the team retain Robert Covington, Joel Embiid? What is the asking price of Nik Stauskas on a new contract?
But rebuttals soon followed:
I'm told this is not true. https://t.co/riuhBKp9VY
— Jake Pavorsky (@JakePavorsky) July 13, 2017
So the report is illogical at best, false at worst. What is the truth? We’ll try to sort it out as details become available. And the latest news from Keith Pompey confirms:
The report about Sergio Rodriguez negotiating a 3-year deal with the #Sixers is FALSE per a team source. pic.twitter.com/Vu3YWwab3L
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 13, 2017
In the end, the source of the report was Sergio Rodriguez’s agent.
It just so happened that we discussed that in a recent article about the 2018 NBA Draft positions.
Next: Dario Saric has to start for the Philadelphia 76ers
If the team truly had any intentions of inking Sergio Rodriguez to a three year deal, the team must have a trade partner for one of the young guards on the team. For now, the team can sign and carry 20 players on the NBA roster through preseason.
In the end, this was likely just an effort to exert leverage on other contract negotiations.
It’s a path Philadelphia 76ers fans are all too familiar with.