Philadelphia 76ers sign Ryan Broekhoff to two-way contract

The Philadelphia 76ers have rounded out their 17-man roster.

In advance of July’s NBA re-start, the Philadelphia 76ers have made one last addition. Ryan Broekhoff will sign a two-way contract with the Sixers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He joins Marial Shayok as the second two-way contract recipient.

This is a largely inconsequential move. Two-ways will not play in Orlando, unless someone is injured and a two-way is subsequently brought in as a replacement. The only way Broekhoff actually suits up for the Sixers this season is in the event of a season-ending injury.

So, on the margins, this makes sense. Broekhoff gets a few extra checks and the slim chance to play if something goes awry. The Sixers get the comfort of a decent back-up plan on the wing. Broekhoff, who spent the past season and a half in Dallas, is a known sharpshooter who has hit 40.3 percent of his threes in 59 career games. He’s also Australian, and therefore bears a connection to Brett Brown and Ben Simmons.

While not much of an athlete, Broekhoff is a sturdy 6-foot-6 on the perimeter. He’s effective as a spot-up shooter, and there’s nothing the Sixers need more than quality shooters. He’s the kind of standstill shooter who fits into any lineup, and Philadelphia has the personnel to cover up any defensive shortcomings.

On the basis of NBA experience alone, Broekhoff is probably favored over Shayok in the event of an injury. While the Sixers would certainly like to develop Shayok for the future, it’s unlikely his development factors into Philadelphia’s postseason plans. Broekhoff has played at the NBA level and could aptly fill a few spare minutes if necessary.

The Sixers’ wing depth likely dispels any need for Broekhoff — even in the event of an injury — but this is still a sly move on Philadelphia’s part. As a back-up to the back-up plan, it could get a lot worse than Broekhoff. There’s no point in keeping the 17th roster spot open if someone decent is willing to take it.

As far as next year is concerned, Broekhoff will still become a free agent this summer. He’s almost 30, and he’s likely to have suitors — either here or overseas — who can offer more than a two-way contract. If the Sixers fall in love during “training camp” ahead of Orlando, maybe he re-signs on a full NBA deal. If not, this is likely a short-term partnership.