Sixers center/power forward Richaun Holmes will miss the start of the regular season with a non-displaced fracture in the radial bone of his left wrist, tweets Derek Bodner of The Athletic. Team doctors will re-evaluate Holmes’ condition in about three weeks.
A second-round pick in 2015, Holmes emerged as a productive player last season, mostly in a reserve role. He appeared in 57 games, starting 17, and averaged 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in about 21 minutes per night.
The injury is a blow to Philadelphia’s frontcourt depth and may quell any thoughts the team has about trading Jahlil Okafor, at least in the short term. Holmes will make more than $1.47MM this season and the team has a $1.6MM option for 2018/19.
Oak is under contract for at least 2 more years, cheap insurance. Holmes was cheaper insurance, but see how that went.