So far, Ronald Roberts living dream with Sixers

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Ronald Roberts will tell you that all he needs is a chance.

The former St. Joseph's standout was not selected in the NBA draft in June. After he played summer-league ball for the 76ers and Miami Heat, Roberts thought he was destined to play professionally for Elan Chalon in France. But the Sixers, in need of an energetic reserve power forward, signed him in August.

Roberts is one step closer to living out a dream.

"Ever since I was little, my dream was to play in the NBA," said the Sixers rookie, who opted out of his contract with the French team. "So I figured I'd give it a shot. My mind-set was if I have an NBA team knocking on my door, I have to take it. This is our business, and when you have an opportunity like that, you have to take it, for sure."

So far, the 6-foot-8, 225-pounder has made an impression through the first two days of the Sixers' training camp at Richard Stockton College.

"Ronald Roberts is a high-energy Faried wannabe," coach Brett Brown said in reference to Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried. "I wish he would be. . . . He's extremely athletic, extremely energized."

Even though Roberts' talent is raw, his 46-inch vertical leap enables him to get to the basket with ease. He's also relentless, like Faried.

"I think it's a good comparison," Roberts said of Faried, who led the United States to the FIBA world championship last month in Madrid. "I'm not there yet. But I think it's a good comparison."

Roberts' weakness has been his post-up moves. In summer-league play, he often put up wild fadeaway shots when there was no clear path to the basket. Roberts, 23, said he worked on his shooting and dribbling this summer.

"The opportunity is great," said Roberts, a native of Bayonne, N.J., who averaged 14.4 points a game as a senior at St. Joe's. "I love the city of Philadelphia. It's like my second home. I'm real comfortable there. . . . It's really a dream come true."

Second-round draft pick K.J. McDaniels signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the 76ers one day after missing the first day of training camp. The deal allows the rookie guard/forward to become a restricted free agent after the season.

The 32d overall pick in June passed on a four-year deal with non-guaranteed seasons in years three and four.

The former Clemson star would not say why it was important to get a one-year deal.

"I'll let [general manager] Sam [Hinkie] and my agent talk about that and I will stick to playing basketball and enjoying it," McDaniels said.

Agent Mark Bartelstein told Yahoo Sports that the Sixers have a philosophy on signing players that is not a fit for his client.

"I just totally disagree with the idea of doing a four-year deal that includes a structure of two non-guaranteed years," he said. "We think K.J. is going to be a good player, and it came down to doing a one-year deal and letting the market determine his value."

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