Following the report earlier in the week that the Sixers were signing former Texas A&M forward DJ Hogg, the team also announced Wednesday the signing of Notre Dame graduate Matt Farrell. A New Jersey native, the 6’0” Farrell shot 38.7% from three-point range during his Fighting Irish career. As a senior, he was second on the team in scoring (16.3 ppg), and first in assists (5.5 apg). After going undrafted, Farrell played 7 summer league games with the Miami Heat, averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 assists in 12.9 minutes per game. He shot just 2-15 from behind the arc.
In corresponding moves, the team has waived Anthony Brown and Norvel Pelle.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 10, 2018
Both Farrell and Hogg are expected to be cut when the training camp roster has to be trimmed to 15 prior to the start of the regular season. However, since the Sixers went out of their way to sign them this week, it’s likely they will be included among the team’s four “affiliate players.” Affiliate player status would mean that if either Farrell or Hogg signs with the G League, they would report to the Delaware Blue Coats, but they would still be free agents if any NBA team wished to sign them. Until recently the Blue Coats’ general manager, new Sixers GM Elton Brand clearly still has his eye on keeping the franchise’s talent pipeline well-stocked over in Delaware.
Of course, one man’s dream is another man’s nightmare. Anthony Brown and Norvel Pelle were both cut to make room on the training camp roster for the new signings. Pelle did not appear in the preseason, while Brown played 7 minutes total, all coming in Monday’s game against Dallas; he shot 0-1 from the field with 2 rebounds and a block. Free trip to China, anyway! Philadelphia may still try to have these two players sign with the Blue Coats, although they’re obviously free to sign wherever they would like.
Five days until the regular season.