The Sixers plan to let the season play out before committing to guard T.J. McConnell long-term, according to Keith Pompey of Philly.com. McConnell is eligible for a contract extension, with the 26-year-old set to reach free agency in July on his current deal.
The 76ers have held brief discussions on possibly extending McConnell, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (podcast link), although the sides appear unlikely to reach an official agreement. Philadelphia hopes to keep space for a maximum-salary player in the summer of 2019, when talents such as Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard become free agents.
Several teams have expressed interest in trading for McConnell, including the Suns, Pompey wrote. Philadelphia recently rejected a trade proposal from Phoenix that included a second-round pick.
In 76 games with the Sixers last year, McConnell held per-game averages of 6.3 points, four assists and three rebounds in 22.4 minutes per contest. He scored four points and dished out three assists in Tuesday’s loss against Boston.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- New Knicks forward Noah Vonleh explained his decision to sign with the team this week, as relayed by Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “I felt like this was great spot for me, great opportunity,” he said. “Young team, being able to play with a bunch of guys around my age, a bunch of guys who have been in similar situations as me, being former lottery picks, teams giving up on them pretty quick. I felt like it was a good group to come join.”
- Marcus Morris is prepared for the uncertainty that comes with earning minutes on the Celtics, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Morris could be asked to play major minutes on some nights, and significantly less minutes on other nights. “The only thing I can do is go out there and be effective with the minutes I’m given and that’s my whole motto during the season,” he said.
- The Sixers could find more success by playing Markelle Fultz off the bench, Marcus Hayes of Philly.com opines. Fultz started in the first half on Tuesday, then came off the bench in the second half behind J.J. Redick. He finished with five points on 2-7 shooting from the floor.
Sixers would find better value in trading Fultz
Fultz and Covington for Butler
Minnesota has to get Simmons.
Ha ha ha!!! Garbage + garbage for an all star? You sixer fans are adorable
Saric, fultz and a 1st rd pick for butler.
Neither Simmons or Fultz took a 3 point shot.
Fultz made a 3 last night.
You should do some research
Fultz is a horrible fit with Simmons, both play with no sense of urgency. Embiid could be Jimmy 2.0 with Fultz and Simmons soon lol.
Obviously you’ve never watched a game. Simmons plays 100% motor. Fultz dogs it.
Fultz is a pick they will regret
Philly still relies on McConnell. Indeed I thought Boston was very aware of him, relative to other players in theory more talented.
Smart looked like a smart re-up, a good thing since this is the opponent that he was probably re-upped for. Remember how controversial his demands seemed at the time?
fultz shot < barkleys golf swing
It’s only two games in to season 2 for Fultz, but opening week has to make you concerned that it was more than just the “yips” last year.
Worse than him being the Sixers pick even is that they gave away an additional likely high lottery first for him along with the pick that became Tatum. Knowing that the plan was to move Simmons to the point more frequently, I am not sure I understand why they drafted Fultz in the first place.
Fultz shot 41% from 3 at Wash. He was/is supposed to be an additional ball handler with off-ball, slashing, and shooting skills. Coming into the draft, his game was the most complete. Tatum was a very average shooter at Duke. The vision was Simmons = LBJ, Fultz = Wade. That was the reason behind drafting him. If they sat at 3, and Tatum was there it would have been a coin flip Tatum/Jackson.
I was so pissed at the time they made the trade, bc I’ve always wanted them to go after Michael Porter Jr, and at the time he was a Top-3 pick. So, I was still pissed when they drafted Zhaire instead of MPJ3. Hell, I would have taken White Donte over Zhaire.
But yes, they are giving up a high pick, Sacramento is a dumpster fire organization. I just hope they do what the Nets did… actually won a few games and make the draft pick worse like #10.
Drafting Fultz was a monumental debacle, but that’s Philly for you. They’re no better (or worse) than they were before “the process” started. They’re also stuck that way again because no top FAs want to play for the Sixers.
Riiiiight.
I’ve said it all year last year. Donovan Mitchell should of been the selection over Fultz. They could of traded down pick up some more draft capital and got Mitchell and maybe a back up big down at the bottom. Harry Giles let him sit last year like he did and spell Embiid for 15-18 mins a game.
Plus Mitchell plays intense D. And can shoot the 3
Fultz got raves at draft time, Mitchell was mostly ignored. Did you see through that? Or just second-guessing with future knowledge.
And there were several more PGs favored over Mitchell.
The Jazz look for prospects with a personality that can tolerate Utah, or else he would have fallen further!