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As first reported by Jordan Schultz of ESPN and then by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers will sign veteran big man Greg Monroe and waive Justin Patton:
Veteran center Greg Monroe plans to sign with the #76ers tomorrow, a league source tells ESPN. Philadelphia will waive center Justin Patton and Monroe will then sign. -@Schultz_Report
Philadelphia is signing veteran center Greg Monroe to a rest-of-season contract, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. -@ShamsCharania
Monroe is playoff eligible, so this move provides the team some depth through the early rounds. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted in a tweet that the team likes his “veteran leadership”, which I’m sure is a real view the Sixers have but is also maybe another way of saying “We don’t trust Jonah Bolden.” (Honestly, I don’t really understand this move.)
Monroe played most of the ‘18-’19 season with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in 38 games before being traded to the Nets and then waived in February. More recently, he signed a 10-day contract the Boston Celtics, but appeared in just one game and played less than two minutes. He’s averaging 15.9 points and 13.4 rebounds per-36 on the season, but with a lousy 49% true shooting.
It’s disappointing that Justin Patton did virtually nothing to convince the Sixers he’s an NBA player, but it’s hardly a surprise. Injuries have plagued Patton’s career, as he’s appeared in just four games through two seasons.