With the Philadelphia 76ers having only ping-pong balls to play for as they close out their final eight games of the regular season, the team has effectively hosted an audition for young players looking to find their next home in the league. So far, results have been mixed, although the team has seen some of their own players maximize the opportunity given to them.
Still, as can be gleaned from the fact that the 76ers are succeeding so far in their tank job and racking up losses, the individual performances have been subpar for the most part. Despite theit clear intent to not win any more games, the coaching staff is still looking to find value players whom they can keep on the roster for cheap ahead of next season.
For one player in particular, though, his time in Philly should be over pretty soon thanks to his continually lackluster outings, which date back to the start of the season despite lofty expectations on him in Year 2.
The 76ers should let Ricky Council IV go after the season
Ricky Council IV, whom the 76ers has high hopes for entering the season, has been pretty disappointing to say the least. He started the year off as a potential wildcard to even start games for the team, yet after the emergence of Jared McCain and the late-season burst coming from Quentin Grimes, he has not really gotten much attention from the coaching staff.
In 16.8 minutes per contest this year, Council has logged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per outing on a putrid 39.1 percent shooting from the field, which includes an even more depressing 26.7 percent success rate on his three-point tries.
Council has been a negligible player for the team offensively, and his utter lack of improvement as a shooter has only intensified his limitations as a contributor for the team, especially given how the roster is constructed.
Philly had high hopes for Council after showing what he can do even in limited spurts last season as a pesky defender and slasher, which culminated in the undrafted wing getting signed by the team to s atdnard, four-year deal.
But given the way he’s played this season, even a guaranteed contract next season may not be enough to lock up his spot on the roster for the following campaign.
Unless he gives the Philadelphia 76ers a resounding reason to keep believing that he can turn things around, Ricky Council iV has become pretty dispensable for the team. Still, here’s to hoping he can still find his mojo and reanimate the promise he showed not too long ago.