Sixers plan active search on buyout market
sixers-plan-active-search-on-buyout-market
The Philadelphia 76ers are lining up moves for the impending buyout period, with at least two roster spots expected to open by Saturday and a third possible through a suspended-list designation.
Two players—center Charles Bassey and forward Patrick Baldwin Jr.—are on expiring 10-day contracts that run out this weekend. In addition, the club can shift Paul George, who has served five of a 25-game suspension for a banned substance, to the suspended list and temporarily add another player until the star forward is eligible to return in late March.
League sources told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Philadelphia has identified several waiver candidates, including big man Chris Boucher, guard Lonzo Ball and forward Haywood Highsmith. Veteran swingman Khris Middleton could also surface as an option if he agrees to a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, though no talks have been reported.
Cap space allows two minimum deals
The 76ers sit $1.57 million below the luxury-tax threshold and $3.75 million shy of the first apron. According to team calculations, they can sign two rest-of-season contracts at the veteran minimum without triggering tax penalties.
Profiles of possible additions
Boucher, 33, was traded from Boston to Utah on Thursday and waived the same day. The 6-foot-9 rim protector spent five seasons under current Sixers head coach Nick Nurse in Toronto but appeared in only nine games for the Celtics this year.
Ball, 28, also landed in Utah via trade and was let go immediately. He logged 35 games in a reserve role for Cleveland, and Philadelphia views him as potential backcourt depth after trading Jared McCain and Eric Gordon last week.
Highsmith, 29, became a free agent when Brooklyn waived him to complete a three-team deal. The forward is nearing a return from August surgery to repair a torn meniscus and has drawn interest from multiple playoff contenders. He began his NBA career on a two-way contract with Philadelphia in 2019.
Middleton, 34, moved from Washington to Dallas in the Anthony Davis trade. Although speculation persists about a possible separation, he is expected to make his Mavericks debut Tuesday night, and no buyout discussions have been confirmed.
Internal option: Jabari Walker
The Sixers could fill one vacancy by converting forward Jabari Walker from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract. Walker reached the 50-game limit on his two-way last week and has been inactive for the club’s past two contests.
“He’s been a tremendous next-man-up type contributor,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said about Walker. “We hope to have his services going forward, but we do have to weigh optimal use of our sort of scarce two roster spots, and against the other opportunities as well.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
