Point guard Phil Pressey joins Sixers after hectic day

MILWAUKEE - Brett Brown got the extra point guard he coveted as the 76ers received a 16th roster spot for hardship relief.

Former Boston Celtics point guard Phil Pressey signed Wednesday before the 91-87 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. He entered the game in the fourth quarter, finishing with one assist and one rebound in 2 minutes, 32 seconds as he gave T.J. McConnell a breather

That was the end of a hectic day for Pressey.

Pressey learned that he would become a Sixer Wednesday morning. Then he took a flight from Idaho to Chicago at noon. After arriving in Chicago at 5 p.m., Pressey jumped in a car and sped straight to the arena. He arrived right before the start of the game.

"I just made it . . . went straight to the bench," Pressey said.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder averaged 3.1 points and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes during the previous two seasons with the Celtics after going undrafted out of Missouri.  After being waived by the Celtics in July, Pressey was unable to stick with the Portland Trail Blazers this preseason.

Brown is familiar with the new addition.

He and Pressey's father, Paul Pressey, were assistant coaches with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. At the time, Brown also coached the AAU team that included Phil Pressey.

"I know that he can come in and sort of create havoc on the ball defensively," Brown said. "I know that he has a tremendous pace. I know that he's a point guard. And I know that those qualities interest us."

The Sixers had only two healthy point guards: Isaiah Canaan and McConnell.

The franchise petitioned the NBA for a 16th roster spot for medical reasons after Monday's 107-100 setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They were able to do that because at the time, they had four players out for at least two more weeks after the first three games.

Robert Covington will be sidelined for one to two weeks with a sprained ligament in his right knee. Tony Wroten is out until at least December and Kendall Marshall until at least later this month 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.

"I remember Brett," Pressey said of Brown's coaching his AAU team and working with his father. "Like I said this feels like a full circle. . . . I'm blessed to be here and I'm happy to have an opportunity."