The Sixers plan to sign Darius Bazley to a 10-day contract, a source confirmed Monday to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania first reported the news.
Bazley, 23, is a smooth mover and impressive athlete. He’s been very productive for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate, posting 20.1 points. 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per contest over 18 regular-season games.
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Bazley also recorded 43 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks in a G League Winter Showcase game.
Instead of playing at Syracuse, Bazley ultimately opted for a $1 million internship at New Balance and trained for the 2019 NBA draft. He was selected 23rd overall and began his NBA career with the Thunder.
Over three and a half seasons in Oklahoma City, Bazley averaged 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
NBA
Bazley is listed at 6-foot-9, 216 pounds and his official wingspan was 7 feet at the 2019 draft combine. He’s played many of his minutes as a slightly undersized, defensively versatile center with both Delaware this year and with OKC last season.
Though Bazley doesn’t mind putting up three-pointers, his lefty jumper is not a strength. He shot 30.8 percent from long distance and 64.2 percent at the foul line this G League regular season.
NBA teams can sign a player to as many as two 10-day contracts in a season. After a second 10-day deal, a team must either sign the player for the remainder of the season or part ways.
The Sixers were especially light at the forward and center spots before the All-Star break because of injuries to usual starters Tobias Harris, Nicolas Batum and Joel Embiid. We’ll see what Sixers head coach Nick Nurse makes of Bazley.