3:22pm: The Sixers have waived Thompson, a league source confirms to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
3:12pm: The Sixers are set to waive Hollis Thompson, a league source tells Derek Bodner of PhillyMag.com (Twitter link). Thompson is on a non-guaranteed contract, so cutting him before the upcoming salary guarantee deadline will ensure that the team isn’t on the hook for his full-season salary.
Thompson, 25, had been one of the longest-tenured players on the Sixers, having signed with the team back in September of 2013. In 256 games since then, the 6’8″ swingman has averaged 7.9 PPG and 3.1 RPG, with a .417/.389/.709 shooting line.
Given how much value is placed on effective three-point shooting in today’s NBA, it’s worth noting that the Sixers are cutting ties with a player who has made 39% of his career attempts from long distance. Still, Thompson’s 36.6% mark this season is the worst of his career, and he has also averaged just 18.1 minutes per game this season, another career low.
Thompson is in the final year of his contract and didn’t appear to be a part of Philadelphia’s long-term plan, so cutting him now will create some roster flexibility and will allow other players – such as rookie wing Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot – to earn more playing time.
Meanwhile, even if he goes unclaimed on waivers, Thompson is a good bet to catch on with another NBA team soon, perhaps on a 10-day contract. He would become an unrestricted free agent on Friday if his release becomes official today and he clears waivers.
Isaiah Canaan is also a good three point shooter who the Sixers let go. Jerryd Bayless makes no difference on an NBA court. Nik Stauskas? Hollis?
Meh.
On the other hand, the Sixers got Ersan Ilyasova and a 1st round pick for Jerami Grant, because although he shot only 45% from the field, he holds his opponents to around 42%.
Richaun Holmes shoots threes, but he also gives up over 50-55% to opposing bigs—meanwhile Okafor holds them to around 47-50%. Holmes is next….
@smittybanton Your not honestly saying the Oak is a better defender than Holmes are you… you don’t need to look at numbers to see who’s a better defender in this case, just watch the games…
Of course the first round pick from OKC is for 2020, is top-20 protected, and reverts to one or two (conditional) second round picks if the first round pick does not convey in year one.
For this BC gave up a limited-skills 22-year old for a 29+ (who could be as old as 32) journeyman. Not exactly a blockbuster deal for either side.
How are those “good” three point shooters Hield and Ingram doing? Yes they were good from three at the shorter college range, and have not adapted to the longer NBA 3-point arc. Meanwhile, they bring nothing to the table, on D or off the ball.
Same for Canaan, he too was a disaster as an all-around player. Too many people today are just looking at the three-point percentage, as though that is the sole criterion for what makes a player good or bad. How superficial and mis-guided can you get?
That means a trade is on the way probably a 2 for 1 meaning one of our bigs Noel or Okafor finna get traded for 2 players or we finna sign somebody
Jarrett Jack? lol
What does “finna” mean – finally? We are down to junior high school street jargon here, now? Well, at least YOU are.
Huh?
Hollis Thompson is one of the last holdovers of the “process” he collected an NBA check for 3 yrs despite a limited skill set. Good for him.
Got to admit that he was better than the majority of the scrubs they rolled out there though. More productive as an undrafted player than a bunch of 1st round picks like… James Young.
I stopped being a fan of Hollis the moment I saw him jog back on defense and just watch while the opposing guard blew thru for a layup on transition 2 years ago. Have some pride! Good riddance.