The Sixers’ best backup center right now is LeBron James. Maybe that will work in the playoffs, but after one regular season game, that’s not ideal. Adem Bona seems useless for the team’s needs right now, but even playing him leaves about 20 minutes of time to soak up on days Embiid isn’t playing. Unfortunately, the Sixers do not have a ton of options due to salary cap rules that have them right up against a hard cap. We basically have two ways to fill the void right now: Trade someone with a similar salary or sign a two-way center. Let’s see what’s out there, shall we?
Trades
Making trades so early in the season isn’t common, but it isn’t impossible. Anyone who just recently signed a new contract is off the table until Dec. 15 due to free agent trade rules, so we are going to be looking mostly at younger players who have not received much playing time and are on the end of their benches here. I know, VERY exciting!
Of course, we have to trade a minimum contract to get one. Who could that mean? Probably Jabari Walker or Justin Edwards. Adem Bona falls into that category too, but we need all the help we can get at Center. Here are the options.
- Ryan Kalkbrenner – Charlotte Hornets
- Kalkbrenner was a 2nd round pick last year, but might be gettable thanks to a glut of other centers on the Hornets roster. He was a 4 time Big East Defensive Player of the Year at Creighton.
- Yanic Konan Niederhauser – LAC
- YKN was the 30th pick in the draft last year but didn’t get much run before getting shut down for the season with Lisfranc surgery. He’s still recovering and missed the first game of the season. That’s not ideal. The Clippers need draft picks though and if they are weighing their options for the future, could probably be enticed with 2nd round picks.
- Jericho Sims – MIL
- Sims is your ideal backup, backup center in that he isn’t very good at anything but isn’t particularly bad at anything either (except shooting, he’s not doing that). He can give you minutes and knows how to play. Even better, he is on a Bucks team that has absolutely no use for him.
- Trayce Jackson-Davis – Toronto Raptors
- The 6’9 PF/C hybrid knows how to rebound but doesn’t get much run in Toronto due to them having a ton of the same type of player. Since they would be helping out a direct competitor, TJD might cost more than you’d think. Anything would be good though for the 57th pick in the 2023 Draft.
THAT’S IT!!! It’s not like I kept a bunch of names off the list either, that IS the list. After December 15, many more names will become available.
Two Ways1
Currently, the Sixers have Rayan Rupert, Caleb Love, and Tacko Fall on Two-Way deals. Only Fall is a center and he’s currently injured with the dreaded “will be re-evaluated in two weeks” designation. Who else is out there?
- N’Faly Dante
- Dante is 25 and 6’11 with rebounding as his calling card. Unfortunately, the former 5 Star recruit is coming off a torn ACL in December and is now playing in the G-League with the Knicks affiliate. Before his injury, he had been with the Hawks.
- Trey Jamison III
- Jemison is 6’10, 260 pounds. That’s pretty damn big. He has floated around the NBA since college, got a ring with the Knicks last year, and was recently released from his two-way contract with the Raptors.
- Adama Sonogo
- Sonogo is 6’9 and 245 pounds. If you are wondering why you feel like you have heard that name before, it’s because he was the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament back in 2023 with UConn. He is currently playing in Israel.
They all have to be better than Johni Broome, right?
What To Do?
The pickings are slim man! Are there internal options in here? This would normally be where Dominick Barlow would get some playing time at center, but he has a back injury that will keep him out for a bit. Is Dean Wade up for the job? It’s not an ideal use of his defensive skillset, but he is known to be versatile. It’s just going to have to be something the team gets through for the first few months of the season because there are not any good options.
- I’m not going to lie to you and say I know what I’m talking about here. The website http://www.twowaytalents.com keeps track of two-way players and I am using their rankings. Unfortunately, Johni Broome is their 3rd best available big man. ↩︎
Sources: Spotrac and Two Way Talents
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