One of the defining features of the offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers is the fact that they simply let Guerschon Yabusele walk in free agency without much in-house resistance. That was both painful and frustrating to see, since the team technically had the means to re-sign him, but the front office simply decided…not to?
As reported, Yabusele was indeed lowballed by the 76ers brass, which only extended him a deal worth only a hair above the veteran’s minimum. That is, of course, disproportionate to his market value, especially in light of the strong campaign he just had last season during his return to the league.
As a result of this glaring omission, the Knicks swooped in and took advantage of the puzzling situation, snagging him off the open market ot the tune of a two-year, $12 million contract. Now, he heads to a strong playoff team with an ample chance to rep the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
To add insult to injury, Yabusele heads to a key rival of the 76ers while also bringing with him his inarguable intangibles and versatility — traits that new head coach Mike Brown will love on his crew.
Guerschon Yabusele will make the 76ers regret not wanting him back
Yabusele, who is currently piloting Les Bleus France in the Eurobasket, recently had this to say about what he brings to the table for the Knicks.
“They are truly a great and magnificent club. I can tell fans that my DNA is very suitable for them. I bring passion, sometimes also anger, war, and aggression. I can promise them that I will help the team achieve as many victories as possible. There is a good team this year, which wants to reach the playoffs. I can definitely help with that task.”
On paper, Yabusele looks like a perfect fit in New York. He is a natural power forward who definitely falls squarely within his new team’s brand of physicality, which got a lost a bit last season due to their lack of size outside of the center position.
Capable of playing all frontcourt positions, the former 76ers forward will be a huge asset for Brown and his coaching staff. After all, aside from being a malleable pice on defense, he is capable of functioning in different role offensively. He can be a post-up option to punish switch-heavy defenses and a pick-and-pop threat to counter opposing traditional lineups.
But aside from the ample range of optionality he brings, Yabusele is an intense, enforcer-like role player who will not shy away from sticking his nose in any situation. Fans in the Big Apple will most certainly love his attitude and disposition on the hardwood.
And of course, all of these could end up being a tragic miss for the 76ers.