Sixers exercise Richaun Holmes’ option

According to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, the Sixers have exercised their team option on Richaun Holmes:

There are a couple interesting things about this.

1. There had been speculation that maybe the Sixers wouldn’t pick up their team option on Richaun’s contract in order to clear the maximum possible amount of cap space. However, it makes sense to take on Holmes’ option and find a different way to clear the money needed to sign someone like LeBron James. That’s because the Sixers will pay Holmes just $1.6 million to, in some capacity, back up Joel Embiid.
2. Signs point to Jonah Bolden being stateside and in a Sixers (occasionally Delaware Bluecoats?) uniform in the 2018-2019 season. Are the Sixers planning to back up Embiid with Bolden and Holmes? I expect Bolden to struggle, at least early on, in adapting to the NBA. And Holmes’ defense is a work in progress, to say the least. The Sixers may still be planning to pursue a veteran free agent center on the vet-minimum. But if not, I’d have concern over their depth at center.
3. It is possible the Sixers are planning to move Holmes at some point. His contract alone is valuable.
4. This transaction marks Brett Brown’s first as interim President of Basketball Operations.