This new wave of COVID-19 has hit the NBA hard. As a result, several games have been postponed, including the Philadelphia 76ers game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the NBA is making adjustments because of these health changes.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the NBA is now allowing teams to sign a replacement player for each player the team currently has in COVID safety protocols. This certainly helps the Sixers who currently have three players in those protocols with Georges Niang, Andre Drummond, Shake Milton, per ESPN.
With that in mind, there are three potential replacements that the Sixers should consider signing in the meantime.
3 players the Sixers can sign due to rule change: Cameron Oliver
The first free agent the 76ers can look at is big man Cameron Oliver. This would obviously be a replacement for Drummond. Without Drummond, Philly will have to rely on both Charles Bassey and Paul Reed for backup minutes.
Bassey has been impressive and Reed has shown flashes, but the Sixers usually like to have extra depth behind Embiid, especially now Niang is out as well. Oliver would provide that in spectacular fashion. If the name sounds familiar it should. Oliver played of the Sixers’ G-League affiliate the Delaware Blue Coats in part of the 2017-18 season and all of the 2018-19 season as well.
Oliver is a high-flying 6-foot-8 big man who is a solid 239 lbs. He’s a bit undersized for a center, but assuming Tyrese Maxey is healthy moving forward, then he’s an ideal pick-and-roll partner for the young point guard.
This season, Oliver is playing for the South Bay Lakers and having a solid season. He’s averaging 13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 55.8 percent from the field. He’s worth a look on the NBA level and he’s added insurance at the center depth chart for the time being.