Philadelphia 76ers: Ryan Broekhoff hopes for future in Philly

The Philadelphia 76ers’ newest signee hopes for a future in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Philadelphia 76ers signed Ryan Broekhoff to a two-way contract last week. It was a move of little consequence, but Broekhoff — the 30-year-old Australian in his second NBA season — does provide one high-quality NBA skill: shooting. The Sixers always need more shooters.

Broekhoff isn’t expected to earn minutes once the Sixers travel to Orlando. Two-way contracts aren’t part of the active postseason roster, and even if Broekhoff replaces the injured Zhaire Smith, it’s unlikely to change anything. The Sixers have too much wing depth to rely on Broekhoff this season.

Next season, however, is still a possibility. Both Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III are free agents this summer, as are Raul Neto and Kyle O’Quinn. Philadelphia won’t have a ton of cap space to burn, and Broekhoff has proven himself (in a very limited sample size) at the NBA level.

It’s clear Broekhoff views Philadelphia as a long-term destination, and while nothing is guaranteed, his hopes for this contract extend beyond a few months of inactivity at Disney World. It’s essentially a tryout for 2020-21.

Broekhoff is 30 years old and has 49 NBA games under his belt. Not the most impressive ratio at first glance, but when you consider his successful career overseas — not to mention his participation on the Australian National Team — he has more than enough on his resume.

The Sixers obviously have a strong Aussie connection in the form of Ben Simmons and Brett Brown, the latter of whom may or may not be back next season. Broekhoff and Simmons will share the court in Australia at some point in the future, which could prompt Philadelphia to play the Appease Its Star card.

Beyond his three-point stroke, Broekhoff is fairly limited. He’s 6-foot-7, but lacks elite athleticism. He’s a weak point on defense, and he struggles to create his own offense. The Sixers, thankfully, have personnel to soothe such concerns. Simmons is one of the best three-point generators in basketball, and Broekhoff is more than capable of standing on the perimeter and receiving passes.

This was very much a move on the margins for Philadelphia, and Broekhoff is little more than a 30-year-old back-up plan on the wing. Even so, he’s a shooter, and even the most one-dimensional shooters tend to hold value. Broekhoff will get a chance to showcase his talent in practice. His success could determine if he’s a Sixer beyond this season.