Philadelphia 76ers targeting 10-day contracts

PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15: Markelle Fultz
PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15: Markelle Fultz
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Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 04: Furkan Korkmaz #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays against the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Furkan Korkmaz’s injury

We had talked about how the untimely injury to Furkan Korkmaz.  That injury not only set his development back, but it derailed the timeline of other decisions as well. Those decisions are about who  the team intends to retain in the off-season. You may guess that a 6-foot-7 wing is worth a great deal in this NBA if he can deliver the 3-and-D.  Without Korkmaz, the team is now trying out another 6-foot-7 wing, James Young. At the moment, those decisions have yet to be determined.  Still, it may have triggered the Philadelphia 76ers to move on from Jacob Pullen on January 4, 2018.

But the team is also caught in the “how do you augment this roster” as well. Without visual evidence of how Markelle Fultz compliments Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid, that remains a significant unknown. And with that huge unknown, other pieces which will be fitted into the roster, are equally unknown.

So the team must fall back to the old “tried and true” methods of auditioning players via 10-day contracts.  And for now, they need that flexibility to aim unknown players at an uncertain fit to address undetermined needs.  Who will that be?  That’s a good topic for another story. For now, the 14 player roster and the availability of 10-day contracts to NBA teams today, January 5, 2018, seems like an ideal situation.

Next: If the Sixers get the No. 1 pick, Luka Doncic is the answer

Winning is step one.  Rounding out the roster is step two.  Look for news about the team to happen in the very near future. The 2018 NBA Draft is loaded with talent. 10-day contracts can help the team close in on exactly who will most benefit the team on NBA Draft day.