Sixers lose gamble and Sampson after trade is voided
A costly miscalculation by the 76ers resulted in the loss of their best perimeter defender when a three-team trade fell through.
A costly miscalculation by the 76ers resulted in the loss of their best perimeter defender when a three-team trade fell through.
JaKarr Sampson agreed to a two-year deal with the Denver Nuggets on Monday instead of waiting to re-sign with Sixers. The 6-foot-9 guard's deal is guaranteed through the rest of the season and nonguaranteed next season.
The Sixers waived Sampson on Thursday so they would have a roster spot available to take part in a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. However, the deal that would have brought Pistons reserve center Joel Anthony and a 2017 second-round pick to Philly was voided on Monday.
The problem is that Donatas Motiejunas, who was going to Detroit from Houston, has back issues and has not been cleared to play. The trade was voided because he can't pass a physical.
"Standard with all trades, medical clearance on all players involved is required for completion," Pistons general manager Jeff Bower said in a statement Monday. "Medical clearance was not given on all players and the trade is being rescinded. In view of privacy considerations relating to medical information, we will have no further comment."
Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie declined to comment.
The trade originally was supposed to be finalized Sunday. But the teams agreed to a 24-hour extension that pushed the deadline to 6 p.m. Monday. Then the Pistons voided the deal with the help of the NBA on Monday afternoon.
As a result, all the players and draft picks involved in the trade go back to the teams that had them.
In exchange for Anthony and the draft pick, the Sixers were sending the rights of overseas player Chu Maduabum to the Rockets. Houston also was receiving a protected first-round pick from the Pistons. Detroit was to receive Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from the Rockets.
The Sixers were going to then waive Anthony if the trade became final.
Sampson cleared waivers Sunday, but the Sixers were unable to re-sign him at the time because the trade's deadline had been extended.
Waiving Sampson was a gamble from the start. After being released, the second-year undrafted player out of St. John's received interest from a few teams before he decided to play with the Nuggets.
Sampson usually defended the opposing team's best perimeter player.
His defensive presence was missed in the two games since his departure. The Sixers gave up 71 first-half points Friday in a 121-114 setback to the New Orleans Pelicans. Two days later, they allowed 66 first-half points in a 129-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
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