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Sixers’ Paul Reed Named G League Rookie Of The Year, MVP

March 22nd, 2021 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Sixers two-way player Paul Reed has a pair of two major NBA G League awards for the 2020/21 season, having been named the NBAGL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, per a press release. He beat out Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. and Raptors 905 big man Henry Ellenson, who finished second and third, respectively, in MVP voting.

Reed, the 58th overall pick in the 2020 draft, spent the entire G League season at the NBAGL bubble in Walt Disney World, appearing in all 15 games and helping to lead the Delaware Blue Coats to a 10-5 record and a spot in the G League Finals.

In 31.5 minutes per contest, Reed filled up the box score with 22.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.8 BPG. He also posted a scorching .588/.444/.789 shooting line.

Reed hasn’t seen much action at the NBA level so far this season, logging just 64 minutes in seven games for Philadelphia. However, he’s considered a promising young prospect and is expected to have his two-way deal turned into a standard contract at some point.

Reed is the third player to be named the G League Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, joining Tim Frazier (2015) and Devin Brown (2003).

17 Trade Exceptions To Expire On Monday

March 22nd, 2021 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

A total of 17 traded player exceptions around the NBA will expire if they’re not used by the end of the day today, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

Traded player exceptions allow a team to acquire a player without any outgoing salary, as long as the incoming player’s salary fits within the amount of the TPE (plus $100K of wiggle room). Trade exceptions are generated in certain deals and expire after one year if they haven’t been used.

We go into far more detail on the concept of the traded player exception in our glossary entry, so be sure to check that out if you want more info.

Most – if not all – of the 17 TPEs expiring today won’t be used. Many of those exceptions are worth less than $2MM, limiting their usefulness. The Warriors, for instance, have four trade exceptions set to expire today, but the most valuable one is worth just $1,925,880.

However, there are a few more notable TPEs worth mentioning. Here are the five most valuable traded player exceptions expiring today:

Miami Heat: $7,533,867
Memphis Grizzlies: $4,185,185
Los Angeles Clippers: $3,567,720
Sacramento Kings: $2,673,334
Portland Trail Blazers: $2,338,847

The Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Sixers, and Wizards also have small exceptions expiring today.

Most higher-value trade exceptions, including the Celtics‘ $28.5MM TPE and the Thunder‘s $27.5MM TPE, won’t expire until the offseason.

The full list of current trade exceptions can be found right here.

Sixers Willing To Make Deals Only If They Will Improve Playoff Push This Season

March 21st, 2021 at 4:23pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

While other teams in the East have made intriguing upgrades as they shore up their rosters for the playoffs (such as Milwaukee’s deal for P.J. Tucker and Miami’s trade for Trevor Ariza), Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Sixers appear willing to selectively make improvements should it help their title odds. According to Pompey, the 76ers have been active in discussions with teams about being a third partner in three-team transactions, and the club may consider buyout market additions as well.

Pelicans Notes: Redick, Bledsoe, Williamson, Ball

March 20th, 2021 at 3:56pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Veteran reserve guard J.J. Redick is expected to be traded or bought out this month. If he’s dealt before Thursday’s trade deadline, the Sixers make the most sense, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Redick’s $13MM salary could be matched with some of Philadelphia’s expiring contracts (Mike Scott, Tony Bradley, Vincent Poirier). The Sixers could also throw in a second-round pick and they have a couple of extra ones, including the Knicks’ 2021 second-rounder, Hollinger notes.

We have more on the Pelicans:

In the same Athletic story, William Guillory expresses doubt that the front office could move Eric Bledsoe. Acquired from the Bucks in the Jrue Holiday deal, Bledsoe is averaging 11.7 PPG and 3.8 APG — his lowest totals since the 2012/13 season — and has been a liability on defense. He’s owed $18.1MM next season, though his $19.4MM salary in 2022/23 is non-guaranteed.
The team should run more of its offense though Zion Williamson, Scott Kushner of the New Orleans Times Picayune argues. New Orleans has struggled to put opponents away due in part to a lack of crunch time touches for Williamson, Kushner notes. Coach Stan Van Gundy needs to make adjustments to ensure the ball gets in the hands of his top offensive threat when the Pelicans need a basket, Kushner adds.
Redick, Bledsoe and Lonzo Ball are the players that could possibly be moved prior to the trade deadline, according to Christian Clark of the Times Picayune. The franchise is in a tough spot with Ball, since they already have approximately $88MM committed to seven other players next season. Re-signing Ball as a restricted free agent would force the Pelicans to take a piecemeal approach to the remainder of the rest of the roster.

Ankle Sprain Sidelines Seth Curry

March 19th, 2021 at 10:47pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Sixers guard Seth Curry will miss at least two games due to a sprained left ankle, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets. He’ll be re-evaluated after Sunday’s game against New York. Philadelphia plays Sacramento on Saturday.

Assessing Which Sixers Could Be Dealt

March 17th, 2021 at 8:27pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

As the Sixers head toward the NBA trade deadline, Derek Bodner and Rich Hoffman of The Athletic catalogue just which players Philadelphia’s revamped front office might be willing to move. Unsurprisingly, Bodner and Hoffman do not think the 28-12 Sixers will be willing to trade All-Stars Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons this season.

Conversely, Danny Green, Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, and Vincent Poirier are all earmarked as possible trade candidates for salary-matching purposes in hypothetical outgoing deals. Bodner and Hoffman think that the Sixers will be reluctant to move Shake Milton, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry, as those players probably have more value to Philadelphia than they would in a trade.

Paul Reed Expected To Eventually Be Promoted To 15-Man Roster

March 16th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Coming off an impressive performance in the G League bubble, Sixers rookie forward Paul Reed is expected to have his two-way contract turned into a standard deal at some point, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania doesn’t make it clear whether that will happen during the season or in the summer, but I imagine the 76ers would prefer to get it done sooner rather than later — Reed would be a restricted free agent if he finishes the season on his current deal, opening the door for a rival team to give him an offer sheet.

How The Sixers Can Weather Embiid's Absence

March 14th, 2021 at 1:41pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Sixers will be without All-Star center Joel Embiid, out multiple weeks with a bone bruise, prompting Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer to assess how the 76ers can adjust to temporary life on the floor without the big man. The team will have to lean on the scoring output of forward Tobias Harris and the passing and defensive acumen of All-Star guard Ben Simmons more than ever.

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Morey, Trade Deadline, Harris

March 13th, 2021 at 7:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers got good news this morning about Joel Embiid‘s left knee, but there’s more to the story than the MRI results, writes Derek Bodner of The Athletic. Embiid is projected to miss two to three weeks with a bone bruise after a scary fall in Friday’s game.

Bodner estimates that April 3 is probably the earliest realistic date for Embiid to return, which will affect Philadelphia’s hopes for the top seed in the East. That would mean a 10-game absence, with eight of those games against teams with records of .500 or better. Losing Embiid could affect not only the playoff seedings, but also the MVP race and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s desire to make a major trade by the March 25 deadline.

An extended absence could affect Embiid’s next contract as well, Bodner adds. If Embiid makes an All-NBA team this season or in 2021/22, he will be eligible for a Designated Veteran Extension, which means his salary could start at 35% of the salary cap, rather than 30%.

There’s more on the Sixers:

Morey gained a reputation for being aggressive at the trade deadline in Houston, but he’s cautioning Sixers fans not to count on a major deal this year, according to Dan Gelston of The Associated Press. Morey likes the cohesiveness of his current players, who are off to a 26-12 start. “We have a great group, a great chemistry, they’re playing at a high level, they play even better against very good teams,” he said. “That’s something fragile and we need to respect it. Long story short, everyone expecting some big thing, I would ask them to be excited about who we have more than what’s possible.”
The Sixers are “loaded with assets” as they approach the trade deadline, ESPN’s Bobby Marks says in an Instagram video. They have an $8.29MM trade exception and seven players with expiring contracts. Marks expects Philadelphia to be in the mix for Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kyle Lowry.
Tobias Harris feels like he has something to prove after being overlooked for the All-Star Game, writes Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Harris wasn’t selected as a reserve even though he averaged 20.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in the first half of the season. “When me and (head coach Doc Rivers) talk about it, I just tell him, ‘Look, I’ve got a bounty out for all the coaches that didn’t vote for me, all the national media that skipped over me,’” Harris said. “It is what it is, but me and Doc discuss that you make your name known in the playoffs and leading this team, and being solid and what you do day in and day out. And that was my mentality.”

Joel Embiid To Miss 2-3 Weeks With Bone Bruise In Knee

March 13th, 2021 at 8:44am CST by marksuleymanov

Sixers MVP candidate Joel Embiid is expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks after an MRI revealed a bone bruise in his left knee, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Embiid’s MRI revealed no structural damage to his knee and there is a feeling of relief within the Philadelphia organization that the superstar’s injury isn’t worse, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old suffered the injury on Friday night during the Sixers’ tilt against the Wizards. Embiid hyperextended his left knee after landing awkwardly following a dunk in the third quarter. Embiid stayed down for several minutes before exiting under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp.

Friday’s contest was Embiid’s first action since before the All-Star break as he – along with teammate Ben Simmons – was forced to sit out the star-studded contest due to contact tracing. Simmons and Embiid saw the same barber who later tested positive for COVID-19 and had to isolate.

While the injury might impact his MVP odds, Embiid has played like one all season for Philadelphia. In 31 games, he is averaging 29.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.4 BPG and is shooting 52.5% from the field.

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