Philadelphia 76ers 2019 roundtable: New Year’s resolutions

Philadelphia 76ers logo (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers logo (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers, Justin Patton (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Justin Patton

By Stuart London

Justin Patton’s resolution for the New Year is easy to surmise: Two feet with no broken bones in them.

Patton, a 7-foot and 240-pound center, was the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Creighton and has played in exactly one NBA game in his career. While he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls (and immediately traded to Minnesota along with a throw-in named Jimmy Butler), Patton’s injury history seems like he was born to be a 76er.

Right before 2017 summer league, he hurt his left foot and in April of 2018, he had the foot operated on again to help the healing. In September, he then had his right foot operated on because – well – he was two months later traded to the Sixers (with that Butler guy again) and if you are a high-draft pick breaking both your feet is kind of a Sixers way to start your career.

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The tantalizing thing about him is that Patton is the type of player the 76ers could use. In college, and a stint with Iowa of the G-League his rookie season, Patton has shown to be mobile big man with a surprisingly soft touch for someone his size (he made 53% of his 3-point attempts in college).

Could the Sixers use a player like Patton? You bet. With Amir Johnson only playing in garbage time, the team basically has no backup at center for Joel Embiid. Patton is currently working out with the 76ers development staff. Publicly, Patton has only said he hopes to play before the end of the season. Rumors have it a late January/early February date to start with the Sixers’ G-League team, the Blue Coats, is planned if Patton continues to progress.

A new year hopefully brings two healthy feet for Patton, which could also make the Sixers’ sickly bench look healthier as well.