The Philadelphia 76ers have added three players since the end of the NBA’s wonky All-Star Weekend.
Sixers Continue Adding To Roster Amid Injury-Plagued Season
The Sixers’ major move was to sign Lonnie Walker IV right before his buyout clause expired. Playing in Lithuania while waiting for an NBA team to call him, Walker expected to make his team debut soon. A young, athletic wing with several years of NBA experience, he was shooting 40.0 percent from three with BC Zalgiris.
Their next move was signing little-known rookie Alex Reese to a two-way contract. A 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward, Reese has played just one NBA game since going undrafted in 2021. However, he’s been ripping up the runway in the G League this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.1 stocks per game while shooting 42.1 percent from three.
Last but perhaps not least, the Sixers have signed NBA fan favorite David Roddy to a two-way contract. Once a standout player at Colorado State, Roddy has been unable to find an NBA home since being selected 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Yet, the issue lies less with his skill than the fact that he might be a bit too positionless.
we have signed David Roddy to a two-way contract. @FultonBank pic.twitter.com/xtsXTDhaC3
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 21, 2025
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Listed at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Roddy is essentially an undersized combo forward. His build is similar to PJ Tucker, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 points. They even have the same wingspan (6-foot-11.5). Nevertheless, Tucker has built his reputation on being a defensive standout who can make defenses pay when he’s off-ball. Roddy, though an underrated defender, is a career 30.5 percent three-point shooter.
Shutting Down The Stars
The 76ers roster has been ravaged by injuries.
Joel Embiid is playing on one leg, knowing he might need another knee surgery. Paul George is playing with one hand, taking pain injections just to suit up. Jared McCain is out for the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus. Eric Gordon and Justin Edwards are now expected to miss multiple games with a wrist and ankle injury, respectively.
Adding players like Walker, Reese, and Roddy can help them survive the onslaught.
Out of that group, only Walker is considered an x-factor at this juncture. Still, Roddy’s skillset could make him one down the line, especially if the Sixers eventually decide to shut down Embiid or George for the remainder of the season. Because George is utilized as a 3 or 4 more often than a 2, Roddy is going to be among the capable scorers that they can replace him with. Because 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has often played small-ball, he might even consider slotting the stocky forward at center.
With that in mind, Philadelphia is now 20-35 two-thirds of the way through their 2024-25 campaign. They’re only 1.5 games out of a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Nonetheless, they’re not currently projected to earn a postseason berth.
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