This certainly isn't Daryl Morey's Philadelphia 76ers. Since Mike Gansey and Jameer Nelson took over for Morey and Elton Brand, there have been clear changes in the offseason roster-building process. While the Sixers' plan to leave the 15th standard slot on the roster open is nothing new, their willingness to keep an open two-way slot for the time being is a change of pace.
Over the years, the Sixers have been aggressive in taking advantage of the optionality that comes with utilizing two-way players, but Gansey is reportedly in no rush to bring on a third player before training camp. Last season, all three spots were filled in under 10 days in free agency. This year, a spot remains open deep into August.
The two-way plan revealed
According to Philly Voice's Adam Aaronson, the Sixers' "current plan" is to enter camp without its third two-way contract signed. The Sixers are likely waiting to see which camp player earns the third slot.
"The Sixers have only given one player a training camp invite via an Exhibit 10 contract; eventually they will sign a handful of players to deals and all of them could be in the mix to earn the team's final two-way spot. They would not have a narrow field of options; should none of their camp bodies stand out, the Sixers could look around the league and try to pluck a player off another team's fringes." via Adam Aaronson, PhillyVoice.
Another thing was made clear: the Sixers' current plan is not concrete, but there is a strong possibility that there will only be 14 standard deals signed, with just two two-way players locked up in Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love.
Are the Sixers taking the correct approach?
There certainly isn't anything wrong with playing the patient game when it comes to two-way players. Clearly, the Sixers want to be sure about who they are adding for the upcoming season, and challenging players to earn their spot is a logical approach.
[Related reading: LeBron James connection could give 76ers intriguing big man target]
An Exhibit 10 deal with the Sixers isn't as good as landing a two-way deal, but it does suggest that there is a possibility that a player could get one of the two-way slots later on in the year. MarJon Beauchamp could be used as a great example last season.
Moving up the ladder, a two-way contract with the Sixers could also be a way to land a standard deal later on down the line. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker are the best examples of that, as they went from splitting time between the NBA and the G League before sticking to the primary roster with a standard contract.
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