NBA Rumors: 76ers aiming to sign another forward after landing Paul George
The Philadelphia 76ers’ search for the perfect supporting cast to complement the skills of big man Joel Embiid continues. Philly signed Paul George over the offseason to a four-year, $212 million contract with a player option for the final season. The team is now reportedly looking to acquire free agent Davis Bertans.
As per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, the team is looking to sign Bertans to a veteran minimum contract. Pompey said:
“According to sources, 6-10 sharpshooter Dāvis Bertāns is another player they are interested in acquiring.”
The six-foot-10 Latvian forward last played for the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023-24 season. Nicknamed the “Latvian Laser,” he has made a name for himself as a sharpshooter. He's a career 39.6% shooter from the 3-point line.
While he's a formidable shooter from beyond the arc, Davis Bertans’ biggest criticism is his defense. He's often condemned for being unable defend the rim or at the perimeter, which makes him a defensive mismatch whenever he's on the floor.
If the Philadelphia 76ers are to use him purely as a shooter, it could work with defenders like Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey on the floor. With Philly’s stars on the floor, Bertans will likely get a lot of free looks from beyond the arc. If he's able to convert his looks at a high clip, it could make up for his defensive weakness.
Davis Bertans was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2011 but didn’t make his NBA debut until 2016 with the San Antonio Spurs. While he had a solid three years there, he performed the best with the Washington Wizards. In 145 regular-season games with the team, Bertans averaged 11.6 points on 40.4% shooting from the 3-point line and 2.9 made 3s on 7.2 attempts.
76ers’ Joel Embiid didn’t play against South Sudan
While the 76ers try to figure out who to surround their franchise player Joel Embiid with, the big man was left on the bench by Team USA coach Steve Kerr on Wednesday against South Sudan. Kerr explained his decision after the game, via Ben Golliver:
“This is the fastest team in the tournament we're going to play. We wanted to match up. They made 14 threes against us in London. The whole game today was going to be about switching and staying in front of people.”
Embiid started against Serbia on Sunday but ended with just four points. Even though he was benched on Wednesday, the 76ers center is expected to start the next game against Puerto Rico.