Trendon Watford signing a two-year deal with the 76ers this offseason isn't what I would call "league changing," but it was a sneaky good pickup for a team that's struggled to find versatility in the frontcourt for years. Usually, the Sixers end up rolling out the most random veteran they can possibly find on the open market, so Watford being 24 years old and coming off his most productive season is a nice change of pace. His offensive game is more robust than Sixers fans might realize — specifically his passing ability.
Tony Jones, who covers the Sixers for The Athletic, said recently on The Athletic Daily NBA podcast that Watford's passing will be important to the Sixers' plans:
"I really do like the addition of Trendon Watford... He's a 6-foot-7 guy, really really close friends with Tyrese Maxey... That can kind of do some unique things as a power forward in terms of running an offense, and initiating an offense. He's a really good passer which is important brcause I think... A lot of the roster lacks dynamic passing. So I think that Watford is gonna end up being an important part of what the Sixers do."
I don't expect Watford to be a hub in the Sixers offense, and his 2.6 assists per game last year aren't massively inspiring (he played on a horrible Nets team, to be fair) but any playmaking skills in the Sixers frontcourt will be welcomed.
Trendon Watford provides much-needed forward depth for Sixers
Again, being even a fine passer in the Sixers frontcourt will be a big deal because the other guys around Watford — Kelly Oubre, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona, etc. — are not what you'd call top-tier facilitators. If Watford can be the best passer on the frontcourt on a nightly basis, Nick Nurse will be hard-pressed to keep him out of the rotation.
Right now, the power forward spot is crowded with bodies, but still feels wide open. Oubre will get some time there, but he's more of a natural wing. Jabari Walker could earn some minutes but he might not be a regular rotation guy. Justin Edwards has real upside but has a long way to go before he can be a real contributor. So if Watford can find his niche — and potentially it's as a bit of a point forward — he should be in line to play a bigger role in Philly than he did in Portland or Brooklyn.