The Philadelphia 76ers quietly made one of the better low-cost additions of the 2025 offseason by signing Trendon Watford. Watford, 24, is a productive and well-rounded player who agreed to a two-year minimum contract with a second-season club option.
With the epitome of a low-risk, high-reward situation at play, the 76ers could soon benefit immensely from targeting a talented player whose abilities were overshadowed by a bad situation.
Watford is a shining example of how role players on bad teams can receive an unfair reputation. Even if they're capable of providing valuable minutes, the team's record often overshadows the quality they can provide if placed in the right situation.
It wasn't long ago that Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington revealed the flaw in the existing logic by going from a 15-67 Washington Wizards team to helping the Dallas Mavericks reach the NBA Finals.
Gafford and Washington are just two examples of the vast difference between empty minutes and acknowledging a role player's capabilities. The Association is a star-driven league, which makes Watford's quality play for the Nets worth respecting despite the team finishing 26-56.
For Philadelphia, the rational hope is that he can put forth another strong season as a well-rounded player capable of elevating the 76ers' second unit.
Trendon Watford can transform 76ers' second unit
Watford played his first two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, emerging as an intriguing offensive player in 2022-23. He averaged 7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just 19.1 minutes per game on .560/.391/.720 shooting.
Those numbers translated to 14.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, as well as 1.0 steal and 0.8 three-point field goals made, per 36 minutes.
In his first season with the Nets in 2023-24, Watford saw a decrease in playing time but an increase in production. He averaged 18.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.8 blocks, and 1.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes on .527/.397/.794 shooting.
Watford all but mirrored much of that production in 2024-25, averaging 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
The question, of course, is whether or not Watford's per-36 production can actually translate to enough per-game value to justify more minutes. He played a career-high 20.8 per contest in 2024-25, but his shooting numbers decreased to .469/.330/.762.
The other end of that, however, is that he proved how effective he can be with the ball in his hands by showcasing his point forward skill set and the defensive versatility he possesses.
For the 76ers, adding a player who can space the floor, create for others, and defend at multiple levels while paying them the minimum would be a dream scenario. Now on a postseason-caliber roster, Watford should have every opportunity to prove whether or not he can excel in a better situation than he was in.
If Watford succeeds, the entire dynamic of the 76ers' second unit would change instantaneously as a playmaking wing with the ability to get to the rim would fill a critical void.