Raul Neto
Position: point guard
Potential role: reserve/depth
Raul Neto was the first point guard the Philadelphia 76ers signed in free agency this summer. He comes to Philly after playing his first four seasons with the Utah Jazz. Last season with the Jazz, he averaged 5.3 points and 2.5 assists, while converting 33.3 percent from the 3-point line. For his career he’s shot 37.7 percent from downtown.
Neto will be battling in the early parts of this upcoming season for the rights to be the primary backup point guard. For the first couple months of the regular season, Neto could be flip-flopping between the second and third string point guard role. However, as the season progresses, I suspect that he becomes the third string point guard heading into the playoffs.
Matisse Thybulle
Position: small forward/ shooting guard
Potential role: reserve/depth
Despite being a rookie, Matisse Thybulle is projected to being one of the better wing defenders on the roster. In his last season in college, he averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.3 blocks, while shooting 30.5 percent from the 3-point line. His poor 3-point shooting percentage from last season is an outlier for his college playing days, he’s a career 35.8 percent shooting from deep and should become a legit 3-and-D player in time with Philly.
He will fighting for primary perimeter minutes off the bench and will most likely be the third wing off the bench most nights, due impart to being a rookie and lacking experience. Unless injury occurs, he probably will have an inconsistent role throughout the season.