GALLOWAY, N.J. — There aren’t too many unknowns on the Sixers’ roster.
With four or maybe five roster spots up for grabs and three of those earmarked for point guards, the roster battles could get intense.
However, 6-foot-11 power forward with a three-point touch, Christian Wood, has turned a few heads at training camp at Stockton University this week. Undrafted out of UNLV, Wood averaged 15.7 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in his sophomore season. Though he was projected to be a first-round pick, Wood slipped out of the draft.
But the shooting ability and athleticism he showed off in summer league with the Rockets got Wood a contract with the Sixers.
“He has tremendous upside for a bunch of reasons,” coach Brett Brown said. “Let’s start with he’s a really, really gifted athlete. Second, he can shoot an NBA three.”
In college, Wood was only a 26.1 percent three-point shooter, but Brown is encouraging him to shoot it. With his rebounding and shot-blocking ability, Wood’s three-point potential fits in with the Sixers’ game plan.
He’s a project, Brown said, but Wood fits in.
NBA
“Take a bouncy athlete, who’s sort of known as a shot blocker and just tumbled out of late-round projections and one stage of his year at Vegas, and now can shoot a three, too,” Brown said. “It’s something that fits into our scheme of trying to grow and develop players with maybe big upside.”
Practice update
During training camp this week at Stockton University, the team has played host to coaches from all over to watch the team practice. Former Sixers coach Jim Lynam watched practice Wednesday and Michigan head basketball coach John Beilein watched from the stands Thursday.
Beilein was on hand to watch his former player Nik Stauskas work out with the team.
“He's the best shooter I’ve ever seen,” Beilein about Stauskas. “He needs consistency in his routine, his day, everything.”
Stauskas, who has impressed his Sixers teammates with his ability to do more than shoot, missed practice Saturday with a sore knee.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, second-round draft pick Richaun Holmes sat out of practice for a fourth straight day with a sprained ankle. Holmes broke his elbow during summer league action in June, but was back shooting and working out in August.
“I don’t really know,” Brown said when asked when Holmes will return. “I’m sure he’s frustrated.”
Next up
The Sixers break camp at Stockton University and return to Philly. The team will practice Monday before heading off to Washington, D.C. to face the Wizards in the first preseason game Tuesday.
On Thursday, the Sixers host the Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center before heading to Albany, New York, to face the Nets.