NBA News: Sixers Take Chance On Ex-Lottery Pick To Fill Backup Center Void

The Philadelphia 76ers did land a gem in James Harden but gave up several assets in the process with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond being sent to the Brooklyn Nets.

Hence, the immediate need of head coach Doc Rivers is to provide star center Joel Embiid with a backup moving forward.

It appears the 76ers are skimming the market for one and will start with a former lottery pick in the person of Willie Cauley-Stein.

According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, the 28-year-old cager will be offered a 10-day deal.

Cauley-Stein will join Charles Bassey, Paul Reed and Paul Millsap in lending a helping hand to Embiid.

“We like some of the guys we have. Obviously, Paul is going to help us with that—both Pauls. Paul Reed, as well. We have Charles Bassey. But the buyout market is out there as well and we’re looking,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers stated.

Cauley-Stein will be a curious addition although his performance since leaving the Kings in 2019 has not exactly been impressive.

The 7-footer showed some promise in his one-year stint with the Golden State Warriors although they were notable dips from his best years in Sacramento.

Moving to the Dallas Mavericks hardly showed improvement as well.

In the three seasons, he was with the Mavs, Cauley-Stein could only put up 4.5 points and four rebounds in 14.8 minutes of action.

With the Sixers, it will be interesting if he could improve and prove that he is a reliable backup for Embiid.

If he can recall the form he had while he was in Sacramento, there is a chance that he could make the grade.

But the first thing that Cauley-Stein needs to do is make an impression on the Sixers organization. He has not played since January 25 when he was waived by the Mavericks.

This season, he played only 18 games with Dallas, norming 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Convincing Rivers and the Sixers to sign him beyond a 10-day deal looks daunting, but it is now up to Cauley-Stein to get down and work for it.