3 reasons why Philadelphia 76ers waived Jacob Pullen

Reason III – Defensive liability

Any player striving to impress Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown had better know defense. Unfortunately, when you look at the advanced statistics for Jacob Pullen’s 2017-2018 season, defense shows up as a deficit.

You may or may not take much stock in ORtg versus DRtg, or OBPM versus DBPM. And that’s okay. But the advanced statistics of comparing either sets of measures forces this conclusion: Pullen’s offense does not measurably counter his defensive woes. For the Philadelphia 76ers whose pace amplifies those deficiencies far more than an average NBA team, that’s a serious concern.

What of McAdoo?

With that in mind, the team concluded that the fit of Pullen is not achievable with the current roster. And that means the team needs to redirect that roster spot to someone whose fit may be better suited to the team’s future.

Next: Sixers are looking to revive James Young’s career

The team continues to look at the other two-way contract holder, James Michael McAdoo. While McAdoo does not add much offensive oomph, he is a solid defender. Beyond that, he is very versatile. Although standing at 6-foot-9, he contributes on rebounds, assists, steals, and blocking shots. So while the perimeter shooting needs work, McAdoo appears to offer plenty of intrigue to keep him around.