Sixers sign point guard Demetrius Jackson to two-way contract

The Sixers used their first two G League contracts on guard Jacob Pullen and forward James Michael McAdoo but eventually opted to look for other options on the market. Philadelphia waived Pullen on Jan. 4, signed the Wisconsin Herd's James Young on a two-way deal, and according to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania, the Sixers will release McAdoo in order to sign point guard and former second-round pick Demetrius Jackson.

Boston used one of their eight 2016 draft picks to select the 6'1" guard out of Notre Dame but he never gained any traction in their system. After being called up and sent down a collective 30 times from Boston to their G League affiliate, Maine, and vice versa during the 2016-17 season, Jackson signed a two-way deal with Houston prior to the 2017-18 regular season.

Jackson played just 12 games while averaging 5.3 MPG for the Rockets before he was released and signed to a 10-day contract on Jan. 6, 2018. Colangelo was quick to act when Jackson entered the market. Jackson is a career 38.9 percent shooter from the field but has never received the opportunity to showcase his playmaking chops at the NBA level.

Jackson averaged 4.1 assists to just 2.2 TPG in his junior year at Notre Dame before declaring in 2016 and still has a modicum of upside as a 23-year-old talent. For what it's worth, Jackson's addition isn't spurred by Markelle Fultz's recent practices.

Jackson enters a Sixers organization already settled at point guard, with Ben Simmons and T.J. McConnell exceeding expectations, and his college regression from deep is concerning. Maybe he reinvents himself as an off-ball guard, but it's easier envisioning his avenue towards minutes when Simmons or McConnell sit as a lead guard.

Young appears to have the most direct path of the two toward earning playing time as a two-guard who tore up the G League ranks this season.