The 76ers are clearly in dire need of more shooting this season, and Justin Edwards was one of the players off the bench whom the team hoped could give them a hand in that regard. Unfortunately, he has not been a contributor at all this season, and the team's decision to recall him from the G League only after another look is definitely not a good sign for his long-term future with the franchise.
Unlike Labaron Philon Jr., who got recalled not long after their most recent G League game, Edwards had to stay in Delaware for another game before getting recalled himself. He bounced back in his second outing with the squad, racking up 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field and draining three of his eight triples, but he clearly earned another look for playing poorly in his first outing. During that contest, he finished with just two points, swishing just one of his 10 shots from the field and missing all of his three-point tries.
The 76ers did not immediately recall Justin Edwards from the G-League
Now, Edwards is back with the 76ers also returning to action. But with him already on the final year of his current contract, the fact that the team has him on a short leash is a damning sign of where they stand with him at this juncture.
This season is a make-or-break campaign for Edwards, and so far, there is not a lot of reason to believe that his footing on the squad will improve any time soon. With the additions of both Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dean Wade, the 76ers already have the kind of three-and-D production they were hoping to get from their young forward.
Instead, after his otherwise impressive rookie year despite being undrafted, Edwards' play has only regressed. His shot completely abandoned him for most of last season, and the team's win-now moves this offseason only placed his future with a franchise in a more precarious setting.
For now, Justin Edwards will have to prove himself again to the 76ers that he is too good to shuffle in and out of the G League. After all, the team's latest decision to keep him with the Blue Coats longer than his rookie counterpart is already some sort of an ultimatum for him to showcase his growth. If he gets sent to Delaware once more, that might just be the signal for his end in Philadelphia.
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