DONE: Sixers sign another good deal to pass up on
The offseason has been eventful for Daryl Morey and the Sixers.
The team made significant moves early in free agency by securing star wing Paul George. Additionally, they made a notable acquisition in the second wave of free agency by unexpectedly signing Caleb Martin, considered one of the best players available.
Earlier this week, they made another intriguing move by agreeing to terms with French forward Guerschon Yabusele. Yabusele had an impressive showing at the Paris Olympics, helping France secure a silver medal and earning All-Second Team honors. The 28-year-old last played in the NBA in 2019 with the Celtics, who drafted him 16th overall in 2016.
Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 260 pounds during his last NBA stint, Yabusele has the ideal build for a power forward, similar to Grant Williams of the Hornets.
Yahoo’s Jake Fischer highlighted Williams as a comparison for Yabusele, consulting NBA talent evaluators on how the two physical forwards stack up against each other:
“Early in the Olympics, people were saying, ‘Grant Williams is way better than that guy!’ But by the time the gold medal game came around, several NBA talent evaluators were suggesting they’d actually choose Yabusele over Williams, which is quite interesting considering he signed with Philly for just the $2.1 million veteran minimum.”
(As always, I recommend checking out the full No Cap Space podcast, featuring Fischer and Dan Devine.)
Following his performance in Paris, it was clear that Yabusele was eager for another shot in the NBA. However, his contract with Real Madrid, which includes a $2.5 million NBA buyout, added some complications. According to Fischer, Yabusele is still negotiating with his soon-to-be former club on a resolution, but the Sixers believed that signing him for the league minimum was an opportunity too good to pass up.
It seems the Sixers view Yabusele as more than just a typical late-August signing or 14th man.
“Is it possible he could be in a closing lineup for Philly in certain games if his Olympic performance carries over? I don’t think that’s a crazy thought.”
Using Williams as a comparison makes it even more intriguing. Though Williams comes with some baggage, having been traded by the two teams that made the NBA Finals this season, he’s still capable of providing starter-level play with toughness and versatility at his best. The Sixers could potentially get similar production from Yabusele at a fraction of the cost — and perhaps with less baggage.
Like Williams, Yabusele’s ability to hit threes will be crucial. Although his shooting wasn’t exceptional during the Olympics, he was efficient from deep while playing for Real Madrid. Just last season, he shot 44.5% from three across 64 games. While the three-point line is shorter and the stakes will be different, it’s still an encouraging sign.
The other significant question, as posed by Devine, is how Yabusele will perform defensively.
“The key skills for him — much like with the Grant Williams comparison — are how mobile he is defensively and how versatile he can be. It’s not just about using his size to anchor in the post but also being able to guard switches on the perimeter, something he did quite well for France in the Olympics.”
Looking at the Sixers’ roster, there was an apparent gap at the four position. While some might feel those concerns were slightly exaggerated in today’s NBA, adding a player who can be used as a true four in specific matchups makes sense. This should relieve players like George and Martin from having to play inside as much, allowing them to focus more on the perimeter.
An interesting idea that has been suggested is using Yabusele as a small-ball five. He certainly has the strength and physicality to fill that role.
Fischer mentioned the possibility of Yabusele serving as a “utility bench big,” similar to veteran Larry Nance, Jr. Devine added that, considering the ongoing challenges the Sixers face during minutes when Joel Embiid isn’t on the floor, Yabusele could be an ideal alternative to a traditional backup big like Andre Drummond.
“If Yabusele can fill that role, it would be a significant boost. Given Philly’s long-running struggle to find effective options when Joel Embiid is off the floor, having Andre Drummond as a like-for-like size option and Yabusele as a changeup is pretty interesting.”
It certainly feels like the Sixers see Yabusele as more than just insurance or a deep bench player. They seem hopeful that the “Dancing Bear” can compete for legitimate rotation minutes. While there isn’t much depth in terms of traditional fours, with George and Martin likely starting and one of them guarding fours, young players like Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin will be pushing the veterans for playing time.
One thing is clear: Yabusele isn’t afraid of competition. His addition brings even more intrigue to an already fascinating Sixers roster.