Sixers waive 5 but are on the hook for almost $3.8 million
The 76ers cut five players on Monday, the NBA's deadline to trim rosters to 15 players for the regular season. The team said sayonara to Furkan Aldemir, Jordan McRae, Scottie Wilbekin, Pierre Jackson, and J.P. Tokoto.
The 76ers cut five players on Monday, the NBA's deadline to trim rosters to 15 players for the regular season. The team said sayonara to Furkan Aldemir, Jordan McRae, Scottie Wilbekin, Pierre Jackson, and J.P. Tokoto.
The Sixers will pay the departing players nearly $3.8 million in guaranteed salary. They also still owe JaVale McGee $12 million for this season after waiving him late last season. Plus, they're on the hook for $10.2 million to Gerald Wallace after waiving him before training camp.
As a result, the Sixers will pay nearly $26 million to players who won't suit up for them in this campaign. However, that sum will help the team reach the league's salary-cap floor of $63 million for this season.
The team also signed and waived Jordan Railey. The move enabled the Sixers to designate him to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League.
"It's always tough" to see teammates released, forward Nerlens Noel said. "You spend so much time with them. To see them go definitely is tough. But we wish them the best and at the end of the day, we understand the NBA is a business."
The Sixers parted ways with Aldemir despite being on his hook for his $2,836,768 guaranteed salary.
The 6-foot-10 post player joined the Sixers in December after his contract with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball League was terminated when the team failed to pay his salary for five months.
Aldemir struggled with the Sixers last season and this preseason. He could be an option to rejoin the team, assuming the Sixers are able to add an extra player.
Jackson, a reserve point guard, played in only three of the seven preseason games. Because of a groin injury, he was unable to show the explosiveness that had helped him become a standout player at Baylor. Jackson will receive $750,000 in guaranteed money.
"He was 70 percent of Pierre," Sixers coach Brett Brown said of what led to Jackson's being released.
This marks the second time the Sixers have waived the 5-10, 180-pounder in as many years. The franchise acquired his rights in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2014 NBA draft. However, Jackson ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Orlando Pro Summer League the next month. He later received $400,000 guaranteed money when he was waived on Sept. 29, 2014.
McRae, chosen by the Sixers with the 58th overall pick in the 2014 draft, spent last season overseas and with the Delaware 87ers. Tokoto was drafted 58th overall in June's draft. Both players turned down multiyear, non-guaranteed deals from the Sixers. They bet on themselves with one-year deals that would have made them free agents after this season.
The 87ers hold McRae's rights if he wants to return the Development League.
"If I would have made shots, maybe things would have been different," said McRae, who shot 29.6 percent from the field, including 2 for 24 on three-pointers.
Wilbekin was waived despite having a solid preseason. The point guard averaged 10 points and had the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 8.
"I'm good. I'm blessed," said Wilbekin, who has lucrative options to play overseas. "I still get to play basketball. So I ain't tripping."
The Sixers also owe him $200,000.
The franchise can petition the NBA for a 16th roster spot for medical reasons after the third game of the season, which is Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center.
To do this, an NBA team must have four players out for at least an additional two weeks after the first three games. That won't be a problem.
Robert Covington will be sidelined for two to three weeks with a sprained ligament and a bone bruise in his right knee. Tony Wroten is out until at least December and Kendall Marshall until at least November after suffering anterior cruciate ligament tears in their right knees. Carl Landry will be out until January with a torn ligament in his right wrist. Joel Embiid will miss his second straight season after his second surgery to repair the navicular bone in his right foot.
@PompeyOnSixers