A former Philadelphia 76ers center found a new home for the time being. The team's 2025 second-round pick, Johni Broome, is looking to bounce back with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Months after trading Broome to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team decided to waive the second-year center. The Sixers couldn't reacquire him if they wanted to, but at this point, is it logical to wonder if they might've jumped the gun on his departure?
Was the Broome move premature?
The team continues to have issues at the center position--but Mike Gansey and the front office shouldn't have any regrets about their Broome decision.
For starters, Broome simply didn't show a ton of promise throughout his rookie season. While second-rounders typically have a hard time carving out a role with a playoff team, the Sixers didn't seem to get a rave report from their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, during the time Broome spent with the team.
That's not to say that Broome can't improve and make the 76ers regret getting rid of him, but there are two more reasons why they can feel absolutely comfortable with their decision.
The Sixers traded Broome so they could free up the financial space to add Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the roster. The most logical moves were to trade or waive Broome, or cut ties with Jabari Walker. Broome got the odd-man-out boot for KCP, and the early reports from training camp have suggested that Caldwell-Pope has been a fantastic addition so far for basketball and leadership reasons. Adding the veteran was a logical move.
One could make the argument that getting rid of Walker would've been the easier decision. He's the only player on a standard contract with a small guarantee. But after seeing Walker through scrimmage and preseason action, that's another decision that is looking like a win for Gansey and his front office.
The Sixers hosted the New York Knicks on Monday night for their preseason opener. Walker shot 4-for-9 from the field and connected on three out of his five shots from beyond the arc, totaling 11 points. Walker picked up a double-double with 11 rebounds, while adding one assist and one steal to his line. It's still early, but Walker has looked far more impactful this season so far.
The Sixers might have depth issues at center, with Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, and Tacko Fall all dealing with setbacks early on. However, regretting the Broome trade simply isn't something the Sixers should be thinking about.
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