The Sixers are poised to make an outside-the-box signing late in the season.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the team plans to sign Kai Jones to a 10-day contract on Friday.
The Hornets waived Jones in October a few days after requesting an exchange. Jones’ social media posts sparked concerns and he was absent from training camp for personal reasons.
Charlotte listed Jones at 6-foot-11 and 221 pounds. He spent two years with the Hornets after playing two college seasons for Texas and being selected 19th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
The 23-year-old appeared in 46 NBA games last season and averaged 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 12 minutes per game. He also played in 38 G League regular season games for the Greensboro Swarm over the past two years and posted 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
Jones displayed major athletic talents, including long, fluid strides in the open court and tremendous explosiveness as a shot blocker and dunker. Clearly, he has yet to prove that he can play a reliable role in the NBA.
Since Joel Embiid’s left meniscus injury, the Sixers went 7-12. They used Paul Reed and Mo Bamba as primary centers and also at times employed small-ball options like KJ Martin, Tobias Harris and Nicolas Batum.
When asked on February 9 if Embiid’s injury impacted the team’s plans at the trade deadline, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey responded: “Yeah, I think our priority was to get a big one – which didn’t happen. But other than that, no. We wanted to add to our playoff rotation this year.
The Sixers, who were rumored to have serious commercial interest in André DrummondUltimately acquired Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne. They later also picked up Kyle Lowry on the buyout market.
Delaware Blue Coats star Darius Bazley didn’t stay with the Sixers after signed a 10-day contract last month. He went to join the Jazz.
As for Jones, his last NBA appearance came 11 months ago in Charlotte’s 2022-23 season finale. It turns out that the Sixers will host the Hornets on Saturday night.
