Sixers Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Boucher, Barnes, Holiday, Watford, Reese

February 24th, 2025 at 9:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Chris Boucher‘s name was bandied about before the trade deadline but the Raptors big man was confident he wouldn’t be dealt. He had steady communication with the front office during that time.

“I won’t lie to you, I think it was the most peaceful deadline I had compared to the other years,” Boucher told William Lou of RaptorsRepublic.com. “I was also talking with (general manager) Bobby (Webster) and all of them, and I never thought I was going to be going away. The media says one thing, but really, the GM, and the people around here would have told me if something would have happened, and then I would have been a little bit more concerned.”

Boucher will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, assuming he doesn’t sign an extension before then.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Scottie Barnes was the primary defender on Kevin Durant during the Raptors’ win over Phoenix on Sunday. Durant was limited to 15 points and Barnes told Michael Grange of Sportsnet.com that it wasn’t a fluke. “I think I’m a high-level defender, one of the best defenders in this league,” Barnes said. “I’m able to be able to guard multiple positions, switch, give the ball pressure because I move really well for my size and I’m out there reading things.”
Jrue Holiday will get Tuesday night off when the Celtics visit Toronto. Holiday will be rested in the first game of a back-to-back, Brian Robb of Masslive.com reports. Luke Kornet (personal reasons) will also miss the contest, while reserve center Al Horford (toe) is listed as questionable.
Nets forward Trendon Watford showed off his versatility on Saturday when head coach Jordi Fernandez used him at point guard during crunch time against the Sixers. Watford scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. “He helps you win,” Fernandez told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “And he does that because he’s able to score, but also able to handle and play-make and play four positions, and post-up and make a three. So all those things are super valuable at his size and position.”
The two-way contract that the Sixers gave Alex Reese is a two-year deal, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. The free agent forward signed the contract on Friday.

Embiid Undergoes Imaging, No Decision On Season Status

February 24th, 2025 at 5:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Amid speculation that Joel Embiid will be shut down for the season due to persistent knee issues, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said no decision had been made on Embiid’s status beyond Monday’s game against Chicago.

“Not at that point at all,” Nurse said in his pregame press conference, Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets. “Just again we are playing and testing and trying to figure it out and go from there.”

Embiid had new imaging done on his troublesome left knee on Monday, Bontemps reports. There will be discussions on Tuesday to determine what the next steps will be.

“There’s still further testing tonight even yet today and continuing tomorrow, and that’s where we are,” Nurse said.

Embiid was at Monday’s shootaround and had been listed as questionable due to left knee injury management before the tests were conducted. He was later ruled out against the Bulls.

The seven-time All-Star has only played 19 games this season, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals per night. Without All-Star production from Embiid, the Sixers have floundered. They had lost seven straight heading into Monday’s contest and are in danger of missing the postseason.

Embiid expressed his frustration over his continuing knee soreness on Thursday, saying, “The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now. It sucks. … I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”

In a subscriber-only story, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com takes an in-depth look at whether Embiid’s knee problem can truly be fixed to allow him to play at an All-Star level again. It’s an enormous concern for the organization, as the former MVP signed a three-year max extension in September that carries through the 2028/29 season.

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Season, Horford

February 23rd, 2025 at 6:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

After sitting out a team practice on Sunday, Sixers center Joel Embiid is now questionable to suit up for Monday’s tilt against the Bulls as he continues to battle a lingering knee injury, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

The seven-time All-Star has only played 19 games this season, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals per night — all significant drops from his output a year ago.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Sixers and Embiid are consulting with doctors about alternative treatment options for the knee, which hasn’t responded as hoped to the current treatment plan. As Charania notes, that plan has included regular injections. Sources tell ESPN that Embiid will undergo some additional testing early this week before a decision is made, but surgery is one of the options on the table.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse recently spoke at a presser about Embiid’s struggles to play through the injury, per Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).

“I would agree that he’s not moving nearly as well as we was,” Nurse said. “We were hoping maybe something conditioning, rhythm, that kind of stuff would get that going, but it doesn’t appear that way right now.”

There’s more out of Philadelphia:

At this stage of their rapidly disintegrating season, it may behoove the Sixers to shut down Embiid for good, Tony Jones of The Athletic argues. As Jones writes, Embiid has lost his offensive burst off the impacted knee and his offensive game is limited, while his movement on defense has looked rough. At 20-36 and having lost seven straight games, the Sixers have slid to the No. 12 seed in the East Conference and are seeing their play-in tournament window closing anyway, even with Embiid available.
The Sixers are still dealing with fallout from their 2020 trade that sent big man Al Horford to the Thunder, Pompey writes in another piece. Philadelphia included its 2025 first-rounder with top-six protection in that deal in order to move off Horford’s contract. With the 76ers seemingly lottery-bound but not at the very bottom of the NBA standings, it’s very possible that pick will land in the top 10 and convey to Oklahoma City.
In case you missed it, Embiid himself has acknowledged that his knee isn’t right and has spoken about looking to improve it this offseason.

Community Shootaround: Should Joel Embiid, Paul George Be Shut Down?

February 22nd, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

Every time it seems like the Sixers‘ season can’t get any worse, somehow it does.

Saturday night, Nic Claxton‘s late tip-in gave the Nets a 105-103 victory at Philadelphia in an oddly important matchup of 20-35 teams. Brooklyn is now just a half-game behind Chicago in the race for the final play-in spot, and the Sixers are left with the sixth-worst record in the league.

Philadelphia fans loudly expressed their displeasure as the Nets built a large early advantage. The Sixers rallied to take a late lead, but weren’t able to close out the game.

Joel Embiid remained on the bench throughout the fourth quarter as coach Nick Nurse stuck with the combination that produced the comeback. The former MVP wound up with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes while shooting 4-of-13 from the field.

Embiid declined to talk to the media after the game, but Nurse explained the physical difficulties his star center is going through (Twitter video link from Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports).

“He’s giving us what he can. He’s not himself, we all know that,” Nurse said. “He’s not, certainly, the guy that we’re used to seeing play at a super high level. But I commend him for giving us what he can.”

Tonight was the 19th game of the season for Embiid, who is still feeling the effects of a lateral meniscus injury he suffered last winter. Surgery appears to be an offseason option to get him full healthy in time for training camp.

The Sixers thought they had a Big Three capable of challenging for the title when they signed Paul George over the summer to team up with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey was also busy on the free agent market, adding numerous veterans with playoff experience.

But George’s season has been affected by injuries as well, and he’s currently dealing with tendon damage in his finger. He confirmed this week that he has had to take injections to be able to play.

The team’s injury list goes much deeper, starting with rookie guard Jared McCain, who was lost for the season with a meniscus tear in his left knee after a promising start. Eric Gordon sprained his right wrist earlier this month and may not be back for a while. Kyle Lowry is sidelined with a right hip injury, and Justin Edwards sprained his left ankle during practice this week.

Amid so much adversity, Philadelphia is nearing the place where losses may be more beneficial than wins. A play-in spot is still within reach, but even if they get there the Sixers would have to win two road games just to earn a first-round matchup with the powerful Cavaliers.

Another concern is this year’s first-round draft pick, which will convey to Oklahoma City if it lands outside the top six. Philadelphia needs an influx of young talent on its veteran roster, and any move up the standings would place that pick at greater risk.

We want to get your opinion. Considering the Sixers’ disappointing season and the fragile health of Embiid and George, should they be shut down for the rest of the season? Head to the comments section below to share your thoughts.

Atlantic Notes: Walker, Anunoby, Robinson, Nets

February 22nd, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Having been born and raised in Pennsylvania, new Sixers guard Lonnie Walker said on Friday that it’s “a surreal moment” to have signed a contract with his hometown team, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I’ve come to plenty of games (in Philadelphia), watching Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand … the list goes on and on,” Walker said. “I’m only an hour and 20 [minutes] from here. I’m not too far. I played for a Philly (AAU) team, as far as Team Final. This is for sure a full-circle moment in my career, and I’m just truly blessed to be here.”

Walker received a two-year, minimum-salary deal that will pay him $780,932 for the rest of this season, with a $2,940,876 team option for 2025/26. According to Pompey, the 26-year-old finalized a buyout with Zalgiris Kaunas, his team in Lithuania, just two hours before his opt-out deadline on Tuesday. It initially appeared as if that deadline would pass without an NBA agreement and he’d finish the season in Europe.

“It’s funny, everyone found out before me,” Walker said. “I was actually sleeping. I got the phone call from my agent. I had about 30 missed calls. I guess it was all over Twitter already. But by that time, my mind was already made as far as being in Europe, finishing the season there.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

In his return from a foot injury that cost him six games, Knicks forward OG Anunoby contributed just five points and zero rebounds and was a minus-23 in 27 minutes on Friday vs. Cleveland. He also grabbed his foot after falling to the court in the third quarter. However, as Stefan Bondy of The New York Post relays, Anunoby said after the blowout loss that his foot felt fine and head coach Tom Thibodeau downplayed the forward’s struggles. “It was about what I thought it would be,” Thibodeau said. “There were some good minutes early, and then there’s some rust he’s got to work through, but I thought he had good energy.”
With Jakob Poeltl sidelined due to a hip injury, Orlando Robinson started at center for the Raptors on Friday against his old team, the Heat, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Robinson was waived by Sacramento last month, but has carved out a modest role in Toronto, having signed two 10-day contracts and a two-way deal with the team. “That’s his NBA ability is perseverance and his work ethic,” said Erik Spoelstra, who coached Robinson in Miami from 2022-24. “He will just continue to grind and work, and that’s why we thought he was a great fit with us and that’s why I always respect guys like that. … I think (Toronto) is a good fit for him here because they do value player development and he’s all about the work. So I continue to root for him.”
Brian Fleurantin of NetsDaily takes a look at some of the major Nets-related storylines to watch for the rest of the season, including whether Cam Thomas can return and finish strong ahead of restricted free agency and which of the club’s young players will take a step forward down the stretch.

Sixers Sign Alex Reese To Two-Way Deal

February 21st, 2025 at 7:32pm CST by Rory Maher

February 21: Reese’s two-way contract is now official, the Sixers announced in a press release. Having also completed two other signings today, Philadelphia now has a full roster (15 players on standard contracts, three on two-way deals).

February 20: The Sixers plan to sign free agent forward Alex Reese to a two-way contract, agent Billy Davis tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 25-year-old played four seasons of college basketball for Alabama from 2017-21 prior to going undrafted. He initially spent a year away from the sport, then signed in Luxembourg during the 2022/23 campaign. He spent last season with Portland’s NBA G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.

Reese signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Thunder for training camp, was waived, and then re-signed to a standard, non-guaranteed contract just before the season began after Isaiah Hartenstein sustained a hand fracture. Reese’s second stint with Oklahoma City was short-lived, however, as he was waived on October 31, about a week into the ’24/25 season.

Reese made one cameo appearance with the Thunder at the NBA level, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound in two minutes of action.

While his role with OKC was limited, Reese has been a standout performer for the Remix, who reacquired him after he was released by the Thunder. In 26 combined games this season with Rip City, Reese has averaged 17.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks in just 26.9 minutes per contest, with an impressive shooting slash line of .487/.429/.882. 63 percent of his field goal attempts have come from long distance.

As our tracker shows, Philadelphia currently has a pair of two-way openings, so no corresponding move will be necessary to add Reese.

Atlantic Notes: Gordon, George, Holiday, Hart, McBride, Anunoby

February 21st, 2025 at 5:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Sixers wing Eric Gordon has been out since February 9 due to what the team is calling a sprained right wrist. When word broke that Lonnie Walker had agreed to sign with Philadelphia, Marc Stein reported that the team made the move in part because Gordon’s return from that wrist injury may not happen in the near future. Head coach Nick Nurse confirmed as much on Thursday.

“He’s seen two specialists, and they still don’t know what to do,” Nurse said, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).

According to Nurse, Gordon is expected to receive more medical opinions on his wrist before he and the team decide on a treatment plan. While there’s a possibility the injury can be managed, there’s also a scenario in which it keeps the veteran shooting guard sidelined for a “long time,” Nurse acknowledged.

We have more from around the Atlantic:

In other Sixers injury news, forward Paul George confirmed last week’s report from Shams Charania, which said that he had been receiving injections in order to play through various health issues, including tendon damage in his finger. “I’m hanging in there,” George said on Thursday, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m giving this team everything I have. The report is true. You know, I am taking some sorts of medicines to kind of, I guess, play through pain. But yeah, I’m going to try to give everything I got.” As Pompey writes, with George and Joel Embiid both at less than 100% and Philadelphia holding a 20-35 record, it would be “completely understandable” if the team decides to shut down its two stars for the season, though there has been no indication that will happen.
After missing the Celtics‘ last four games prior to the All-Star break due to a right shoulder issue, Jrue Holiday returned on Thursday and played 20 minutes in a win over Philadelphia. As Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe relays, Holiday said the injury had been nagging him “for a little bit,” but that it “feels really good” now after the team’s training staff insisted he take some time off. “Sometimes they’ve got to save you from yourself,” he said. “Especially for me, if it’s a game I want to play. You play through injuries, you play through being hurt but sometimes it’s smarter to take a little bit of time especially since we’re at the second half of the season. Obviously I would have played through it, which I feel a lot of us do, is play through injuries. All testament to the training staff.”
Knicks forward Josh Hart will miss a second consecutive game on Friday in Cleveland due to patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee), writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. With Hart out on Thursday vs. Chicago, Miles McBride got his first start of the year and scored a season-high 23 points in a tight overtime win, as Peter Botte of The New York Post details.
While Hart will be out on Friday, another injured Knicks forward – OG Anunoby – is on track to return to action. Anunoby, who has been on the shelf since February 1 due to a sprained foot, is expected to be available vs. the Cavaliers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

David Roddy Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers

February 21st, 2025 at 10:56am CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers have signed David Roddy to a two-way contract, the team announced (via Twitter).

The 6’4″ power forward just completed a 10-day contract with the team that he signed on February 11. He got into only one game during that deal, finishing with four points, five rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes in Thursday night’s loss to Boston.

Roddy fills the two-way slot that opened up when Philadelphia promoted Jared Butler to the 15-man roster last week.

Roddy began the season with Atlanta, but was placed on waivers so the Hawks could complete a two-for-one deal with the Clippers at the trade deadline. Before being released, he appeared in 27 games, averaging 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.8 minutes per night.

The Sixers selected Roddy with the 23rd pick in 2022, but traded him to Memphis on draft night. He was sent to Phoenix in a three-team deal at the 2024 deadline and then shipped to Atlanta in an offseason trade.

Alex Reese is also expected to sign a two-way contract with Philadelphia, which will have a full roster once that deal is finalized. Jeff Dowtin holds the team’s other two-way slot.

Lonnie Walker Signs Two-Year Deal With Sixers

February 21st, 2025 at 9:57am CST by Luke Adams

February 21: The signing is official, the Sixers announced in a press release.

February 18, 2:46 pm: Walker will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with Zalgiris Kaunas after all, Langberg tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Charania, the veteran guard has agree to a two-year contract with the Sixers.

While Charania describes it as a $3MM deal, it should be worth a little more than that. Philadelphia only has the ability to offer a minimum-salary contract, but the second year of a minimum offer would come in around $2.94MM.

The amount of Walker’s prorated minimum salary for the rest of this season will depend on when he officially signs. As of today, it would be about $826K, but it will likely take him a little time to gain FIBA clearance.

The second year of Walker’s new contract will be a team option, a source tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).

The 76ers currently have a full 15-man standard roster, but their 15th man is David Roddy, whose 10-day contract expires on Thursday night, so Walker figures to take Roddy’s spot on the roster.

Philadelphia will be looking to strike gold in the international market again after signing big man Guerschon Yabusele last summer following his five-year stint in Asia and Europe.

According to Stein (Twitter link), the Sixers’ offer to Walker came in today, just in time for him to take advantage of his Feb. 18 opt-out deadline. The team sought shooting guard insurance with Eric Gordon‘s return from a wrist injury up in the air, Stein adds.

February 18, 10:27 am: The contract that shooting guard Lonnie Walker signed with Zalgiris Kaunas in the fall included a clause that allowed him to opt out up until February 18 in order to return to the NBA.

However, Walker won’t take advantage of that opt-out, agent George S. Langberg tells Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link). The plan, Stein says, is for Walker to finish the current season in Lithuania and return to the NBA for the 2025/26 season.

Walker has 322 career regular season NBA games under his belt, having spent time with the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets from 2018-24. Last season, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.4 minutes per game across 58 appearances for Brooklyn, with a shooting line of .423/.384/.763.

The 26-year-old was in camp with the Celtics in October before being cut ahead of the team’s regular season opener.

Multiple reports in recent months have suggested that Walker was drawing interest from NBA teams, including a handful of playoff-caliber clubs. However, it’s unclear whether or not any of those teams made a serious pitch to bring him back stateside.

Walker has averaged 13.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 1.8 APG in 19 EuroLeague games (22.3 MPG) for Zalgiris this season, though his shooting percentages are just 38.7% from the field and 33.1% on three-pointers.

Joel Embiid Admits He Needs To ‘Fix The Problem’ With His Left Knee

February 21st, 2025 at 7:59am CST by Arthur Hill

After shooting just 3-of-9 from the field in Thursday’s loss to Boston, Joel Embiid told reporters he needs to “fix the problem” in his left knee before he can become dominant again, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

The Sixers‘ nightmarish season continued as their arch rivals embarrassed them by 20 points on their home court in their sixth straight loss. Embiid was limited to 15 points in 27 minutes, and Bontemps points out that his nine shot attempts were his lowest total of the season for a game in which he wasn’t ejected or didn’t have to leave early due to injury.

“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now,” Embiid said. “It sucks. … I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”

There was hope that the week-long All-Star break might help Embiid recover from the ongoing physical issues that have limited him to 18 games this season. Embiid still hasn’t fully recovered from the lateral meniscus injury he suffered a year ago, and a report earlier this month indicated that he may need surgery once the season ends.

When he has been able to play, Embiid hasn’t been near the MVP-level force he was in recent seasons. He’s averaging 24.3 PPG, which is more than 10 points lower than a year ago. His 8.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game are also well below last season’s rates, and his shooting percentages have dropped sharply to 45% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range.

Any thought the Sixers might be giving to shutting Embiid down has to be balanced against their postseason chances. Even though they’re tied for the sixth-worst record in the league, they’re just a game and a half behind Chicago for the 10th spot and a berth in the play-in tournament. There’s still hope that they can sneak into the playoffs, and a healthier roster could make them a tough first-round opponent.

In the meantime, the focus will be on helping Embiid manage his knee issue so he can stay on the court as much as possible.

Embiid added that the week off helped “a little bit,” but he’s still not feeling like he normally does. However, he believes he can help the team even if he’s not 100%.

“I’m not as dominant as I was a couple of months ago, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t have a lot of impact on the game,” Embiid said. “Just me being out there, I think, helps a lot. My presence, my ability to attract double-teams, get guys more shots. It’s just tough because you know you can do so much more. But there’s no excuses. It’s just the way it is. You just have to find ways to figure it out and get better.”

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