The Philadelphia 76ers continue to search for answers to fix their depth problem and their G-League affiliate has the prospects to repair it.
The need for the Philadelphia 76ers to add depth to their bench is a persistent problem. Christopher Kline Co-Site Expert of The Sixer Sense, recently wrote an article about how simple moves could help the Sixers fix their bench unit. In that article, he mentioned one player from the 76ers G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, that could help the 76ers.
However, there are actually two players on the Blue Coats roster that could help Philadelphia. It should be noted that these two players aren’t the two-way contract players Demetrius Jackson and rookie Shake Milton.
As Kline had wrote in his article, Haywood Highsmith is an ideal candidate that could fill the Sixers need for a 3-and-D wing. In his rookie campaign with Delaware, he’s shooting 39.5 percent on 4.5 3-point attempts per game. He’s also averaging 1.0 steal and 7.5 rebounds a game as well. His potential on offense and defense is so much higher than his G-League averages suggest. Below is a highlight video of just how dominant Highsmith can be.
Highsmith is already on the 76ers radar when the team brought him to workout along side with veteran NBA free agents Arron Afflalo, Brandon Rush and Sean Kilpatrick. Out of all the Blue Coats players, Highsmith is the most likely to get a call up to the NBA, whether it be on a two-way contract, like Kline suggested, or on a 10-day deal.
Based off his 13.7 points per game average and the potential he has based on the video above, its safe to say that he will get a shot with the Sixers at some point this season. He fits the need the 76ers have and there could be potential for even a bigger role if he continues to develop.
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As good as Highsmith is, he isn’t the only Blue Coats player that has the potential to fill a role for Philly. Cameron Oliver has played for Delaware over the past season and a half and has shown growth across the board from last season to this. He also has played for the Sixers Summer League team this past offseason as well, averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Known as “Space Cam” for his ability to make highlight dunks, but he has proven to be able to do so much more this season. He’s averaging 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, while shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from downtown.
Oliver fills the need for depth at the power forward position. With his shot blocking and rim running abilities along with the ability to knock down the occasional 3-pointer, he would help fortify the back end rotation of the power forward position. If he were to get a chance to play for the Sixers, it will most likely be on a 10-day contract.
Both players have the potential to be contributors to the Philadelphia 76ers bench moving forward. Highsmith has 3-and-D potential written all over him and Oliver can be a high energy big off the bench. Both players should get consideration from the Sixers front office in the near future.