Sixers waive Hollis Thompson
The 76ers on Wednesday waived Hollis Thompson, the last player remaining who participated during the 2013-14 season.
The team waived the small forward a couple of day before his non-guaranteed contract became fully guaranteed. The Sixers had until Saturday to release Thompson to avoid having to play him $1.01 million for the season. It takes 48 hours to clear waivers and all NBA contracts become guaranteed on Jan. 10.
The Sixers decided to waive Thompson before they leave Thursday for a two-game trip against the Boston Celtics (Friday) and Brooklyn Nets (Sunday). The organization did not want to make things awkward by sending him home during the trip.
The move gives the Sixers an open roster spot. They will likely use it to address their need at point guard. T.J. McConnell was the team's lone healthy point guard in the last two games.
The Sixers could sign a player to a 10-day contract on Thursday. They also could put in a waiver claim for a player released from another team.
Thompson and Nerlens Noel were the only remaining members of the 2013-14 team. Noel was sidelined for the entire season while rehabilitating a knee injury.
After going undrafted in 2012, Thompson spent the season with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. He signed with the Sixers on Sept. 27, 2013, and has contributed as a solid three-point shooter.
Thompson had career lows in points (5.5), three-point percentage (36.6) and minutes (18.1) this season. The fourth-year veteran averaged 7.9 points while shooting 38.9 percent on threes during his career.
The move provides more opportunities for the Sixers to evaluate rookie guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. The 24th overall draft pick is averaging just 2.3 points and 8.1 minutes.
Out to impress
Joel Embiid keeps stressing his desire to become an NBA all-star to date his mystery crush, who happens to recording artist Rihanna.
The Sixers center mentioned his intentions again after scoring a team-high 25 points Tuesday in a 93-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Earlier in the day, the 7-foot-2, 275-pounder added his second straight rookie-of-the-month award.
Embiid was asked if he wanted to sweep the monthly awards and win rookie of the year.
"Rookie of the year would be great, but I don't think it's going to help me get to my crush," he said. "Hopefully, the All-Star [Game] I'll get to do that."
Shortly being drafted in June 2014, Embiid reached out to Rihanna on Twitter, looking for the date. Embiid said that Rihanna said no and told him to come back when he's an all-star.
So Embiid has been asking his Twitter followers to vote for his selection to the All-Star Game so he can secure a date.
The NBA has used fan voting to select the All-Star Game starters since the 1974-75 season. However, this season, current players and a panel of media members will also have a say.
The fans will account for 50 percent on the vote. Players and media will each make up 25 percent.
There have been 45 rookies who have been selected to the All-Star Game. Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin was the last rookie to accomplish the feat in 2011.
Holmes in Delaware
The Sixers assigned Richaun Holmes to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers.
The reserve center has been sidelined with a concussion after being elbowed in the back of the head on Dec. 22.
However, he hasn't played in a basketball game since the Dec. 14 loss to the Toronto Raptors because of the team's logjam at center. Embiid, Noel and Jahlil Okafor are ahead of him in the depth chart.
Holmes will participate in Wednesday night's game against the Maine Red Claws at the Bob Carpenter Center now that he has completed the NBA concussion protocol. He's also scheduled play in the Sevens' next two games.
The 6-10, 245-pounder has averaged 6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 16 minutes in 21 appearances with two starts for the Sixers.
@PompeyOnSixers