Sixers signing Ryan Broekhoff through the rest of the season

Following the Jimmy Butler trade in November 2018, Elton Brand went over a month without using an available roster spot, finally signing Corey Brewer to a 10-day contract in January 2019. The Sixers GM won’t be making a similar mistake as the team readies to travel to the Orlando bubble in just over two weeks. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowki, the Sixers are bringing 6-foot-7 Australian wing Ryan Broekhoff into the fold:

Per the Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, Broekhoff is able to be signed to a non-two-way contract, using the Sixers’ open two-way contract slot, because he has less than three seasons of service in the NBA. It’s one of those confusing wrinkles to the league’s revised CBA following the COVID-19 shutdown.

Broekhoff was waived by Dallas back in February in order for the Mavericks to sign Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The 29-year-old Aussie is an excellent outside shooter, having made 40.3 percent of his 3-point attempts across two seasons in Dallas. Prior to his NBA stint, Broekhoff most recently played three seasons for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia. He shot 48.9 percent from the international 3-point line in 2017-18.

The Sixers surely have plenty of familiarity with Broekhoff’s game based upon Brett Brown’s connections with the Australian national team program. Broekhoff and Ben Simmons are expected to be on the national team roster together at next summer’s Olympics, so you’d imagine there’s some degree of on-court chemistry between the two from past workouts.

Based on the snap takes coming out about Broekhoff, it seems like he can sure shoot the ball, but not do much else. Still, there’s value in having an extra body who can knock down open shots off a Joel Embiid post-up or a Ben Simmons drive. Since Brand was able to bring Broekhoff aboard using the revised roster limitations without having to make any additional roster moves, this seems like the type of move that can only potentially help the Sixers in the Sunshine State.