After a relatively long idle period, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally making another roster addition as they are reportedly signing 2024 Olympics breakout star Guerschon Yabusele from France to a one-year minimum deal.
Yabusele, who played for Real Madrid last season, turned heads in Paris with his inspired play in front of the French faithful. While Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama stole the spotlight, the burly forward made sure to carve a name for himself at the Summer Games, even supplanting four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in the starting lineup.
76ers in serious talks with Guerschon Yabusele
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers have officially secured Yabusele to the tune of a one-year, $2.1 million deal, beating out multiple teams who showed strong interest on the forward right after his Paris stint.
Free agent F Guerschon Yabusele has agreed on a one-year, $2.1 million minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Yabusele is rejoining the NBA’s Eastern Conference after leaving the Boston Celtics for Real Madrid in 2019. pic.twitter.com/imZ6yfYYMe
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 18, 2024
The 28-year-old Yabusele was the 16th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, playing sporadically for the Boston Celtics for a couple of seasons in 2017 to 2019. Now, he’s joining a 76ers team that could really use a hand at forward, a position they completely lack in outside of Paul George and converted forwards in Kelly Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin.
Expectations will have to be tempered in his return to the big league, but Yabusele supplies the physicality and size that Philadelphia urgently needs at the position. He flashed his athleticism at the Olympics, but the NBA offers a much different climate.
Shoudl the deal get finalized, Yabusele needs to work on his three-point shot and offensive variance. After all, forwards who are not viable threats from the perimeter are more exploitable under NBA rules which put a premium on across-the-baord firepower on the perimeter.
Nevertheless, this is a wonderful development for one of the best feel-good stories in all of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Even better, he is set to join a Philadelphia 76ers team that has an actual opening at his position.