Right when no one was looking, the Philadelphia 76ers took it upon themselves to snag Trendon Watford in free agency. At the time, it was widely considered a consolation move on their part after lowballing Guerschon Yabusele in the open market. While he cannot be deemed to be his direct replacement, he has been rock-solid for the team this season.
Watford signed a two-year, $5.26 million contract with the 76ers and it is aging like fine wine. In just under 17 minutes per game, he has averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per outing while shooting above 50 percent from the field. His all-around production has been vital for the team, especially off the bench.
And with the 76ers dealing with a glut of injuries at the moment, his sheer versatility has come in really handy. Sure, he might not be turning in wild numbers on a nightly basis, but he has been a stable source of defensive resistance and some much-needed boost in the playmaking department, which this group has not had for quite some time now.
The 76ers should be lauded for signing Trendon Watford for cheap in free agency
Right now, the 76ers are engaged in a war of attrition in the middle of the standings to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. While they are battling in a shorthanded state, they have been able to steady the ship to some degree, and having Watford has definitely helped in that regard.
His effectiveness has admittedly been dependent on the lineups he has been featured in, but his main selling point has sold a lot of fans in this campaign. He is currently one of the team's backup forwards, acting as a defensive-minded energizer off the bench, but he has also functioned as a nominal point guard at times, especially when Cameron Payne was not yet on the roster.
Watford has given Nick Nurse and his coaching staff a lot of optionality when it comes to mixing and matching lineups, which is already a win in and of itself. Forwards who are willing defenders and feasible playmakers despite playing limited minutes are not common in today's game, which makes him a luxury to have despite his low dosage.
Call this one a good move on the part of Daryl Morey, Elton Brand, and the rest of the front office. While the 76ers will not be making headlines with this signing, they do deserve credit for this unexpected bargain.