Report: Yabusele to leave Sixers, join Knicks in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Guerschon Yabusele will ultimately have just a single-season stint in Philadelphia.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Yabusele has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Knicks that incudes a player option in Year 2. SNY’s Ian Begley reported New York is adding Yabusele using the taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Sixers signed Yabusele to a minimum-salary deal last summer from Real Madrid, bringing him back to the NBA for the first time since his 2018-19 season with the Celtics.
Yabusele was second on the Sixers to Ricky Council IV with 70 games played last season. Along with his offensive skills, the 29-year-old’s hustle and basketball intelligence were consistent bright spots. He averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“I have that feeling that I really didn’t have when I was in Boston,” Yabusele said on Nov. 10. “I have that feeling right now to be able to play, compete with tough teams, tough players, and that’s what I was looking for.”
The Sixers planned to employ Yabusele primarily at power forward, but he played heavy center minutes because of injuries to Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond.
“He’s done so many different things — played the five, played the four, started, come off the bench,” Tyrese Maxey said on Dec. 23. “He’s done everything that Coach has asked him to do. All you can do is appreciate someone like that, man. Shoot threes, rebound, post up. Sometimes we’ve got to throw the ball to him in the post because he’s a matchup problem down there. … Yabu’s been great.”
It remains to be seen exactly how the Sixers will proceed at center behind Embiid. They have two young big men in the fold with Adem Bona and Johni Broome. Drummond exercised his player option, though The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported Monday night that the Sixers “have been trying to move him over the last 24 hours.”
As far as power forward, the Sixers made a notable move on the opening night of free agency, coming to terms with Trendon Watford.
Report: Yabusele to leave Sixers, join Knicks in free agency
Guerschon Yabusele will ultimately have just a single-season stint in Philadelphia.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Yabusele has agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Knicks that incudes a player option in Year 2. SNY’s Ian Begley reported New York is adding Yabusele using the taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Sixers signed Yabusele to a minimum-salary deal last summer from Real Madrid, bringing him back to the NBA for the first time since his 2018-19 season with the Celtics.
SIGN UP HERE Yabusele was second on the Sixers to Ricky Council IV with 70 games played last season. Along with his offensive skills, the 29-year-old’s hustle and basketball intelligence were consistent bright spots. He averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“I have that feeling that I really didn’t have when I was in Boston,” Yabusele said on Nov. 10. “I have that feeling right now to be able to play, compete with tough teams, tough players, and that’s what I was looking for.”
The Sixers planned to employ Yabusele primarily at power forward, but he played heavy center minutes because of injuries to Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond.
“He’s done so many different things — played the five, played the four, started, come off the bench,” Tyrese Maxey said on Dec. 23. “He’s done everything that Coach has asked him to do. All you can do is appreciate someone like that, man. Shoot threes, rebound, post up. Sometimes we’ve got to throw the ball to him in the post because he’s a matchup problem down there. … Yabu’s been great.”
NBA
It remains to be seen exactly how the Sixers will proceed at center behind Embiid. They have two young big men in the fold with Adem Bona and Johni Broome. Drummond exercised his player option, though The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported Monday night that the Sixers “have been trying to move him over the last 24 hours.”
As far as power forward, the Sixers made a notable move on the opening night of free agency, coming to terms with Trendon Watford.
