Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is making it known that re-signing free agent forward Guerschon Yabusele will be an offseason priority. In a recent appearance on the Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast, Morey was asked if he had a message for Yabusele, who was slated to join the hosts on draft lottery night (hat tip to HoopsHype).
“He’s really embraced Philly, which is exciting,” Morey responded. “He’s going to have many great options—I mean, he’s very valued around the league. So, hopefully he understands how important he is to us and to the fans of Philly. Him being at your event—I think you might actually help us in free agency by having him there.”
Morey delivered a similar message with “Kincade and Salciunas” on 97.5 The Fanatic (hat tip to Sportando), saying, “Yabusele’s an unrestricted free agent so we will look to re-sign him, but historically in the league, that tends to be a harder situation, but it would be awesome if we could get him back.”
Yabusele played two years in Boston, then spent five seasons in Europe before rekindling NBA interest with a strong performance in the Summer Olympics. He signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia last August and was one of the few bright spots in an injury-filled season, averaging 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per night in 70 games.
The Sixers only hold Yabusele’s Non-Bird rights, so they’re limited to offering him a 120% raise above his minimum salary unless they use part of their mid-level exception. He has expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia, but he may get better offers on the open market.
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Morey has expressed optimism that Joel Embiid can return to his MVP form, but the odds are against it, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer states in a mailbag column. Embiid, 32, is coming off two significant operations on his left knee within 14 months. The star center’s recovery progress this summer will be closely watched, but it’s possible that knee issues will continue to bother him for the rest of his career.
- There won’t be much of a market if the team tries to unload Paul George‘s contract during the offseason, Pompey predicts in the same piece. Injuries limited George to 41 games this season, and he still has three years and $162.3MM left on the contract he signed as a free agent last summer. Age is another concern as he turned 35 earlier this month, and Pompey notes that any executive would be risking his job by trading for George if it doesn’t work out.
- Ace Bailey, who’s considered a strong possibility to be selected by the Sixers with the No. 3 pick, listed George as one of his player comparisons in an interview at the draft combine (Twitter video link from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). “Big three. KD (Kevin Durant), Paul George and Jayson Tatum,” Bailey said. “George and Tatum, their creation for them to get their shot off is unbelievable. I see myself doing the same thing. KD in the mid post with one, two dribbles, or less is straight buckets.”
76ers current team payroll $175 mm (11 players)
#3 pick $10 mm
Total $185 mm
Tax line $188 mm
Pay luxury tax for Crimes and Yabusele
or dump Oubre $8 mm salary to Nets
76ers can only offer $6 million MLE to Yabusele because of salary cap. Can he get $13 million per season from another team?
or they can dump Paul George salary to Nets
If any team would like to dump salary to Nets, do it ASAP
Losing Yabusele would somehow be the biggest loss of the Sixers season
Going to be interesting to see how much Grimes gets offered. I see Sixers fans acting it’s a lock we bring back both, and Grimes will only command less than 20 million per year.
I think it’s very likely he commands at least 20- 25mil/year and then they can possibly use the mid-level exception on Yabu, but would maybe need to move off Oubre and Drummond as strictly salary dumps
Maybe Josh Harris goes deep into his pockets for some change to pay the extra tax while Embiid and PG sit next to him on the bench in street clothes lol
They may be able to dump Embiid if they add that #3 pick, so him and #3 for a second rounder.
His contract is the worst in the league, but he seems happy to just be injured all the time so maybe they’ll just tank for another few years and get a few top 5s since Maxey didn’t help them win and a George will play 15-20 games at most.
Dump him and the $245 million he is owed? Which GM is going to take the risk of owing someone (who is always hurt) that much money in exchange for Ace Bailey and a second rounder?
More smoke less thought
Gifted the #3 pick.
Is a deal to swap Embiid for Kessler something the Jazz could get behind? Throw in future pick swaps so each team keeps this years pick. That way the Jazz could have Embiid and then take Queen/Maluach. Or just to get off the Embiid contract, swap this years picks in the Embiid/Kessler deal so the Jazz can get someone like Ace and the Sixers can draft Queen/Maluach. Sixers take Kessler and his 4.8 team option and he’s restricted the following year.