Sixers Making MOVES…

Sixers Making MOVES…

The NBA trade deadline has passed and teams are fully focused on the NBA playoff race but that has not stopped the Sixers from making some moves following an impressive win over the Charlotte Hornets one that this team desperately needed last night we got the news that the Sixers had waved Kenny

Lofton Jr according to ESPN’s Adrian wowski so not a huge surprise here I’ve been a guy that’s spoken very highly of Kenny lton Jr in the in the past and still am a fan of his game but I do understand the limitations that he has and really the struggle to find a full

Role with this Sixers team my ears started to perk up about the lack of momentum as far as Kenny lofton’s future outlook with the Sixers when you start to see these opportunities being created for guys like Ricky ccil the fourth and tur Quon Smith the other guys on two-way

Contracts in the six organization while Kenny Lofton Jr was essentially stuck down in Delaware throughout the process and if this this was not the time to give him an opportunity with all the injuries that the team currently has two Joel embiid two moamba at times De Anthony Melton Robert Covington there’s

Been a ton of guys banged up during the stretch and the fact that Lofton did not receive an NBA opportunity with these Sixers pretty much was pretty uh indicative of what his future could be to me I do want to shout him out for his production in the g-league that in 11 11

Regular season games that he did Play Down in Delaware 29.8 minutes per game 26.4 points per game 9.1 rebounds 4.0 steals or 4.0 assists 1.6 blocks which is pretty impressive shot just 30.8% from three but up that volume to 3.5 per game also shot 55.1% from the field

Overall he was a really solid player down there I will say I got a chance to catch him live and in person twice down there that there is a basketball feel that is tough to quantify that you can really feel in his game the playmaking specifically jumped out far more

Impressive from what those four assists per games indicate that there were many times where the blue cats fully played through Kenny Lofton Jr that he was the absolute Hub of that offense but what that also brings as an issue when looking forward to his potential role is

He’s not going to get quite that type of opportunity at the NBA level that when you look at how NBA teams are constructed you very clearly have your stars the primary decision makers the the guys that you build around the Joel embiid the Tyrese Maxis and then

Everyone else has to find their little niche about them I think Kenny Lofton struggles to make an impact in the margin with kind of the hustle areas stuff like rebounding the ball getting highle decisions he’s a guy that needs to have be a high usage player and that

Is a struggle when you’re trying to make that leap and be a little bit of this in between Talent between the G league and the NBA I still have a lot of belief in his game he’s also lost a ton of weight down in the g- league I do want to tip

My hat to that that I would guess he’s probably down at least 50 lbs since when he first showed up the camp he reportedly weighed over 300 at a point in time I would guess he’s well below 250 it’s notable when you see him and I

Know I did a couple side to side pictures that I tweeted out a while ago that you can see the DraStic difference from the Kenny Lofton that is kind of in our brains and the guy that he is now but it did not take long for these

Sixers to fill that roster spot as this morning we got the news that the Sixers are signing guard Jeff Dalton Jr to a two-way NBA deal out of the first place Delaware Blue coats affiliate sources tell the athletic in the stadium this coming from sham shiria dton who played

For Nick nurse in Toronto has averaged 21.4 points and seven assists in the last 12 g-league games so I think that Nick nurse connection is specifically important to mention here we’re starting to see some Nick nurse influence on this roster that there’s always some give and take between the general manager and the

Coach for what the roster can be constructed on I know we’ve nitpicked and and talked in a great depth of frustration about some of these Doc Rivers decisions rolling with a guy like DeAndre Jordan over a player like Paul Reed but we’re starting to see who some

Of Nick nurse’s guys are that is why Kyle Lowry is here as the backup point guard Kyle Lowry coming off a 15-point and 10 assist performance who was very effective in that last game against the Hornets and the Sixers needed every bit of it and Jeff D is another example of a

Guy that Nick ner seems to like to kind of shout out some of his stats I’ll begin at the NBA level that he has gotten a little bit more of an opportunity still just 25 years old but through his career not much of a chance but he did play 25 games with the

Raptors last year played 10.4 minutes per game in that just 2.4 points 1.2 assists this isn’t something that you’re going to be able to run to the stat sheet and brag about but I do think it is worth noting that he’s at least been

In that NBA mix a little bit more than a lot of the players were having in this and a far as far as the g-league numbers for dton he does shine a little bit that looking at his numbers this year in Delaware he’s played 16 games for the

Blow blue coat started in 14 of them in 32.1 minutes per game he’s averaging 18.1 points 5.6 assists 3.1 rebounds 1.1 steal shooting 38. 4% from three on 5.4 attempts per game which is a little bit down from his career average of 41.4% if he can shoot at that level of volume and

Efficiency at the NBA level there could possibly be a role for Jeff dton Jr I’m not fully bought in and committed to that and I’ll say this for dton specifically that he is a guy that has underwhelmed my eye test a little bit that in the moments that I have locked

In and watched him and I don’t watch every single blue coats game so maybe I’m just catching him on the the bad games I don’t want to crucify the guy just yet but he hasn’t been a guy that has stood out as far as a talent to me

And as far as the Sixers from a roster uh construction standpoint it is interesting to me that they made this move that now the three two-way spots are fully operated by Ricky Council I fourth tquan Smith and Jeff dton Jr so three guards that they’re rolling with

There Ricky I guess is a little bit of a forward but he’s still only like 6’4 maybe 66 on a really good day that he’s not a guy that’s going to be you know playing forward minutes even though in the way he kind of has in some of these

Small ball lineups it is interesting to me that there are primarily guards obviously I think this is way more indicative of them not seeing a future for Kenny Lofton Jr and them giving Jeff dton a chance for it and the other aspect of things that I do think is

Weighing on the Sixers team is DeAnthony Melton that we got the update yesterday that Nick Nur said DeAnthony Melton is out and they do not know for how long now we know with Melton that he’s been battling back issues for the better part of two years now that he missed 18

Consecutive games dating Back to Before the All-Star break ultimately did return to the floor but played just three games and was pulled out after 8 minutes against that Boston Celtics team because he reinjured that back back injuries are a tough thing to battle back from and they’re something that impact every area

Of life this is not something that DeAnthony Melton just kind of tough out and play through that he’s going to feel at every step he takes every movement every cut even in your day-to-day life the stuff of literally walking around sounds like it’s a little tough on

Mountain right now and as far as the the Outlook from the Sixers perspective feeling pretty pessimistic about a potential return I am hopeful that DeAnthony Mountain does come back to the Sixers team he has proven himself as a valuable part of this team developed into quite the impressive player when

You think about the combin of his willingness as a three-point shooter his defensive ability the way that he can get in passing lanes that is especially important when looking at this Sixers team the way that it is constructed that they do need a little bit of that

Defensive emphasis that he does bring to the table Melton has had some really nice flashes guarding some tough competition even guys a little above his size that Melton while he is 6’2 does have a 6’9 wingspan and he uses every inch of that to cause issues on

Opponents you feel it in the steals that he’s able to pick up and if he’s not able to return to this Sixers team this year or or at least for the foreseeable future that’s a huge gap to feel now Jeff dton is not a guy that possesses quite the defensive stuff that DeAnthony

Mountain he’s only 63 Jeff dton so about the same size without the freakish wingspan and he’s okay defensively he’s not a guy that I think needs to be covered up for in the way that some small guards are but he’s not a guy that I think is next in line as this

Defensive stopper for the sixer organization but when you speak about the long-term view of the Sixers team I am grateful that they’re taking the two-way slots a little more seriously this year it seems that in past years they’ve either even like felt like just kind of kept guys around just to keep

Guys around rather than searching for guys that could have a long-term impact it feels like this year that they’re constantly focused on whether that is the the opportunity whether that’s the guy and we’ve even seen opportunities like Darius Bas League getting a 10-day contract or Kenny Lofton was a guy who

Came in shortly after the season I they actually traded for Kenny Lofton at the g-league level which I didn’t even fully know was possible until it happened with this situation but it’s clear that they’re focused on upgrading and creating this pipeline from Young player to legitimate contributor and that is an

Area in the six organization that I think has been drastically looked over for years past that when you look at really good NBA organizations the pipeline that they’re able to create as far as you draft a guy you put a little on his plate you develop them you

Develop them and then that guy turns into either an effective role player or a guy that you can trade for something that even if it’s a situation like Jaden Springer is not the best example but flipping him for a second round pick I would consider that a loss because he

Was obviously the 28th overall pick and a guy they took in the first round but if you’re having the same type of process with guys like Turon Smith Ricky Council I fourth who are each undrafted free agents you see the way that kind of does move up the ladder a little bit now

I’m not saying I want either of those guys traded frankly I’m very interested in both of their long-term abilities and Ricky CS is a guy specifically that I want signed to an NBA contract today that I I think that should have happened already and the and the last part that I

Want to note about this entire roster construction conversation is we are now past the point where players added can be eligible for the NBA postseason so who the Sixers have on roster is who they’re going to get come playoff time I believe my one side note that I’ll make

On that is players currently available and currently free agents I know shake Milton was a guy that was bought out right before the buzzer I believe can be added and still be eligible for the playoffs but everyone that is currently on a roster will be stuck with their

Teams or even if there is a buyout situation they will that they will not be eligible to sign with these Sixers teams so they still have a little bit of roster available ility that that bottom end of the roster the Darius basley 10-day contract has worn out that there

Are two open roster spots but it would not surprise me if they’re in the position of looking for long-term options of seeking some of these guys that let’s say they they convert Ricky Council to a standard NBA deal as I hope to be the case and as signs are trending

Towards that being the case that leaves them with one open two-way slot and one open NBA roster spot so they still have to fill those to some extent I don’t think in either direction those are guys that can contribute in a playoff setting but that is two swings at the plate that

You can get looking for long-term prospects that could be an asset to the Sixers team maybe get a little guy a little further in his situation or growth in the NBA for that full roster spot and take another chance on a two-way guy maybe Kenny Lofton JR could

Even coming back for that particular role I’m not taking that fully off the table but ultimately we do have the rest easy knowing that there is no more Kenny Loft and shout out to him the massive human being that he has been as a little play in this title here um but grateful

For the minutes that he did spend with the Delaware Blue coats excited to see what Jeff dton can bring see if he does get an interesting an NBA chance whatsoever if he does I would say that’s a pretty strong praise and shows a lot about what Nick nurse believes in him or

Thinks of him so let’s keep that on the table and let’s see how this Sixers team goes from here they will be back in Action tomorrow against the Dallas Mavericks another game that they could use a win but it’s going to be a much tougher matchup than that Charlotte

Torrance game so let me know what your guys predictions are for that matchup in the comments also any thoughts on Kenny Lofton Jr or Jeff Jeff dton Jr maybe I’m sleeping on Jeff dton let me know if you think I am in the comments give me your

Top takes on that make sure you’re smashing that subscribe button to keep this Sixers dig family growing drop a like and I’ll be talking with you next time right here on Sixers digest peace

Sixers Making MOVES…

Despite the NBA Trade Deadline already passing, the Sixers continue to show their commitment to upgrading the bottom half of their roster. Sean Barnard breaks down the latest news regarding the team and what these moves could mean. He also gauges his level of excitement for the new addition and if this could lead to anything else.

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