Sixers could keep Shawn Long around

OAKLAND, Calif. - 76ers coach Brett Brown gave the impression Tuesday that the team intends to sign Shawn Long to a second 10-day contract.

Wednesday is the final day of the 10-day deal that the center signed with the Sixers on March 6.

"It wouldn't surprise me," Brown said of re-signing Long. "I have no desire personally to look elsewhere."

Long averaged 6.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 9.1 minutes in three games before Tuesday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.

The 6-foot-9, 255-pounder finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while playing 15 minutes in his debut against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6. Then he played only one second against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday and did not see any action against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Long scored six points on 2-for-3 shooting and grabbed five rebounds in 12 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

This isn't his first go-round with the Sixers. Long signed a partially guaranteed deal with the team on July 7. The Sixers waived him on Oct. 24, the final day of the preseason. However, they held his NBA Development League rights, so he played for their D-League team, the Delaware 87ers, before being called up.

"He's a part of what we have been doing," Brown said. "I think once we learn more about [Tiago Splitter's] health, that could influence [Long's being re-signed].

"But to date . . . he's done nothing that would make me think otherwise. I think the more we start learning about Tiago, that could influence some."

Splitter is sidelined with a strained left calf.

The Sixers have 15 players on their roster after Justin Harper's 10-day contract expired Monday. The team successfully petitioned the league for a 16th roster spot because it has four players out for at least an additional two weeks after missing at least three games.

Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jerryd Bayless are the other three players sidelined.

Embiid is out with a season-ending meniscus tear and a bone bruise in his left knee. Simmons has been sidelined the entire season after right foot surgery. And Bayless played in only three games because of torn ligaments in his left wrist.

The Sixers can sign another player in addition to Long if Splitter is expected to be out for an additional two weeks.

Simmons has not been able to do much on the court because of his slow recovery from a Jones fracture in his foot. However, his participation in five-on-none drills has been a benefit for the coaching staff.

"It helps," Brown said. "I see different things when I watch him out there. You can see how you can post smaller people. You can see how he might be effective in different ways that you didn't [see] drawing it on paper."

Brown added that the play scripting is the clearest example of Simmons' improvement as a basketball player despite his being sidelined this season with injury. The rookie has also improved his shooting form.