While the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster is full, there’s still room for a handful of Summer League Sixers to work their way into the conversation.
The Philadelphia 76ers‘ Summer League run was a bit underwhelming. Markelle Fultz got hurt in the early stages of the Las Vegas tournament, while the team’s overall success was marginal. There were, however, some contributors worth noting — a handful of whom could make the final roster.
Philadelphia 76ers
We can exclude the second round picks right away, as both Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort have decided to sign overseas after their run this summer. Anzejs Pasecniks, who didn’t play for the summer Sixers, will also remain overseas.
In addition to their second round picks, Philadelphia only had one returning member on the team in Alex Poythress. Reports of late indicate that the Los Angeles Clippers may be looking into Poythress as a two-way contract option, and with the 15-man roster virtually set, that’s likely the only avenue Philadelphia could take to re-sign him.
The Sixers already have a glut of big men on their roster, which means Poythress may not have a spot. The former Kentucky star played plenty well this summer, and is talented enough to get NBA playing time in the right situation, but may not be the best of options in the eyes of Bryan Colangelo and the remainder of the Sixers’ brass.
That shifts the focus to the perimeter, where shooting and defensive versatility remain key. The conversation then boils down to two names above all else: James Blackmon Jr. and Isaiah Miles.
If the Sixers keep their roster as is and move on from Poythress, that leaves them with both of their two-way contracts available. With the ability to switch both players between the NBA and the G-League without committing one of the orginal 15 slots to them, Philadelphia could use the G-League consistently while still giving them some run at the NBA level when needed.
We’ve already touched on Miles, who spent last year overseas after going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s in 2016. Miles went to school in the Philly area, and his attributes as a versatile wing defender who can shoot the three-ball give him innate value in today’s league. The Sixers aren’t short on talent at his position, but Miles fits the mold of what teams are looking for nowadays.
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Blackmon would essentially be the fourth-string point guard, giving the Sixers another high octane scorer who could provide a spark plug off the bench. While his NBA playing time would be minimal, Blackmon’s ability to fill it up from deep (42.3 percent on 7.2 attempts per game during his final season at Indiana) could be enough to make him stick.
He’s also a crafty ball handler, executing at a high level in the pick-and-roll and making up for his height disadvantage with plenty of energy to go alongside his scoring. There’s not an overly high ceiling there, but somebody who can score in bursts off the bench typically has a roster spot in the NBA.
Philadelphia isn’t in a spot where long term commitment is an option. They’re likely looking to retain flexibility for 2018, while their core is largely settled. Their two-way contracts, however, will still hold value, while also giving them the opportunity to further evaluate talent that may become relevant later on.
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Blackmon and Miles were among the Sixers’ best performers during Summer League, and remain names worth watching as training camp creeps closer.