Contrary to what people might thinks, the Philadelphia 76ers have actually had their faire share of successes when it comes to developing young talent. While the narrative has been largely centered on the franchise finding a way to dip their fingers into every available sweepstakes for various All-Stars, the front office has also been able to find young players who can fit well on the roster.
But prior to the 76ers finding hidden gems such as Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Justin Edwards, Philly was known to be a team that put much more premium on relying on proven veteran commodities instead of investing court time to younger prospects who profile as NBA-caliber cogs. Former head coach Doc Rivers was notorious for that, and the team at large also adopted that same, unproductive disposition.
Case in point? Look no further than Julian Champagnie, whom the 76ers actually signed to a two-way contract after he went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft. Standing at 6’8”, the St. John’s star profiled as an intriguing wing option with his sought-after mix of great size and ranginess, as well as three-point shooting.
His stint in Philadelphia, however, was as short-lived as it could get. After spending most of his freshman year in the G-League with the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ affiliate club in the developmental league, the team axed him even before his rookie season actually finished.
Justin Champagnie adds to the 76ers’ regrets with his solid production for the Spurs
Champagnie quickly found himself on another NBA roster with the Spurs, which remain as his ball club at the present. Heck, San Antonio just fully guaranteed his deal for next season at a massive $3 million discount, making the 24-year-old one of the best bargains in the league.
With the Spurs, Champagnie grew as a prototypical three-and-D plug-and-play piece who is not shy about pulling the trigger from downtown while also being willing to embrace tough defensive matchups. And for that reason, the 76ers definitely gave up on him way too early.
To make matters worse, Champagnie would have been an absolutely perfect role player to round out the current 76ers rotation. He can play three positions from shooting guard to power forward while also having the physical tools to guard four positions at best. His streaky, but voluminous three-point shooting would have also helped tremendously.
Clearly, the Philadelphia 76ers should stop letting go of opportunities to develop young players. They have been blessed with top-end talent out of the draft in recent years, but the hope is that they can replicate the same when it comes to less heralded prospects like Julian Champagnie.