The Philadelphia 76ers have officially agreed to terms with shooting guard/small forward Ryan Broekhoff. The contract is expected to be worth the veteran’s minimum of $2.1 million but is non-guaranteed.
This signing comes after Broekhoff signed a two-way contract to join the Sixers for their playoff run last inside the NBA bubble in Orlando but days playing his first game his wife contracted COVID forcing him to leave the team and return home.
Broekhoff’s wife has an autoimmune disease, so he had to put her health before basketball.
Clearly, Broekhoff did enough during his time with the team to develop a respect for his game and will now become the 76ers 15th player signing and fill the team’s final roster spot.
The 30-year-old Australian provides some depth on the wing and sorely needed floor spacing to a revamped Sixers squad. Newly minted President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has made three-point shooting his top priority this offseason, sending out Al Horford and Josh Richardson while acquiring sharpshooters Seth Curry and Danny Green. The signing of Broekhoff continues this trend, as “Rowdy Ryan” is a career 40.3% shooter from deep, and will likely be used as a catch and shoot sniper off the bench by new head coach Doc Rivers.
Broekhoff played 59 NBA games over the past two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.7 minutes per game. His limited playing time wasn’t wasted, however, as the Frankston Blues product piled up 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds per game and shot 40.3 per cent from three-point range
In Dallas, he was a fan-favourite and a guy who made the right plays when called upon and stepped into any role when required. Although that was was the case, the NBA is a tough business, and when the Mavs went out and signed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, they had to remove someone from the roster to make way for their new addition.
Broekhoff was the one to be let go directly after a game versus the Utah Jazz on February 10th, directly after he had played his best game of the season, a 6 point, 9 rebound, 4 assist stat line in a 16 point win over the Charlotte Hornets.
“It was difficult, you realize it is part of the businesses. It’s hard not to think about it as personally.” Broekhoff said after being released.
Broekhoff has signed, essentially, a training camp deal with no guarantee of a playing a full season in Philly. The Sixers remain on the lookout for a talented point guard talent or a heavier, more defensively versatile wing, both gaps in their roster which they could use Broekhoff’s roster spot for if they so wish.
The 76ers’ playoff fortunes will be of particular interest to Boomers fans this year, as Broekhoff and fellow Aussies Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle will battle to make it out of a competitive Eastern Conference. The length of Philadelphia’s playoff run will likely determine whether any or all of these three will have both the time and desire to quarantine before joining Team Australia in the Tokyo Olympics.
Ethan Pechersky is a Philadelphia-based sportswriter with a deep love for Australia. Standing 5'10" with absolutely zero basketball talent to his name, he spends his time thinking he knows more than every coach and GM in the league, and being disappointed year in and year out by his beloved Jazz's early playoff exits.