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Two prominent Process roster holdovers, shooting guard/small forward Hollis Thompson and guard Isaiah Canaan, have both learned their Sixers related fate.
After Derek Bodner originally reported his $1 million team option for the 2016-17 season, the Sixers confirmed the news via a press release.
Team exercises option on Hollis Thompson, who shot 39% from three-point range last year " https://t.co/BGchQLYYk8 pic.twitter.com/89Ou72fyXj
— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) June 29, 2016
The 25-year-old Thompson will be heading into his fourth season with the franchise after being signed as a free agent in September 2013. He appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 9.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc, dropping his career average down to 39.1 percent.
Thompson's game hasn't evolved enough for him to be considered anything other than a catch-and-shoot threat, but he's a cheap bench piece worth hanging onto for the time being. This team has enough problems with perimeter shooting, and statistically he's really good at that despite our occasional bewilderment. If he can learn to take defenders off the dribble and play quality off ball defense, the Sixers will have a legitimate NBA player who can see some face time on a solid playoff team.
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com reported on Wednesday that the Sixers opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Canaan, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Sixers guard Isaiah Canaan to become free agent after team elects not to extend qualifying offer, league sources tell @clevelanddotcom.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2016
According to Spotrac, his qualifying offer was worth $1.2 million. Canaan was acquired in February 2015 in a trade that sent K.J. McDaniels to the Houston Rockets. He played in 77 games for the Sixers last year, averaging 11.0 points per game while shooting 36.3 percent from three.
His inability to handle the ball and create offense for teammates made him impossible to play at point, and his lack of size got him picked on as a shooting guard. Philadelphia should be able to replace his shooting in free agency this summer.