The Philadelphia 76ers made two expected roster moves over the weekend. They signed the 41-year-old superstar forward LeBron James and made room for him on the roster by cutting ties with Dalen Terry. No surprises there.
In the coming days, the 76ers are expected to add another veteran to the roster with the former Memphis Grizzlies wing, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Over the weekend, Caldwell-Pope agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. Once he clears waivers, he's expected to reach a deal with the 76ers, playing on the veteran's minimum.
Again, the Sixers will have to make a corresponding move in order to add Caldwell-Pope to the roster. At first, the obvious move was cutting ties with Jabari Walker. His contract expires in 2027, and he's set to make $2.5 million for the 2026-2027 NBA season. However, just $250,000 is guaranteed before January 10. The Sixers won't have to eat that entire $2.5 million if they cut him soon.
Is there another move worth making?
The 76ers converted Walker's two-way deal into a standard contract for a reason. They believed in what he brought to the table. The 23-year-old forward appeared in 64 games, averaging 11.9 minutes when he played. Walker produced averages of 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds, while making 45.5% of his shots from the field.
Suddenly, eyes are shifting over to the second-year center, Johni Broome. He's guaranteed $2.1 million for the 2026-2027 season, which makes it harder to move him. However, the Sixers seem to be trying. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the 76ers are attempting to find a trade partner to take on Broome. In the event that plan fails, waive-and-stretch is still an option for the 76ers.
The 76ers will remain in a good position either way. Neither Walker nor Broome changes their title odds. However, since it's possible, the correct move is to choose Walker over Broome. From the jump, the ex-Auburn center was a questionable pick for the Sixers.
Although he entered the NBA with a decorated college resume, the team wasn't all that inspired by his early progress. Before a regular-season-ending injury, Broome played in just 11 games, averaging 5.0 minutes on the court. He made 16.7% of his shots and came down with 1.5 rebounds per game during that time.
The NBA shouldn't give up on Broome, as it always takes more than one season to develop. But the Sixers shouldn't task themselves with that challenge. At this time, they need all the reliable contributors they can get on board. Walker is not only younger than Broome, but he carries more experience with him.
Prior to his run with the Sixers, Walker spent three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 188 games, Walker produced averages of 6.2 points (46.5% shooting from the field), 4.5 rebounds, and nearly 1.0 steal per game. The forward is a good blend of still developing and experienced enough to have an impact next season.
If the Sixers are truly looking to choose between the two, Walker is the obvious candidate to hold.
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