The 76ers kept reshaping their roster until the math finally worked. To make room for LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Philadelphia had to keep trimming around the edges, and that process ended with former SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome headed to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The move came after Caldwell-Pope cleared waivers on Tuesday. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal this way: “The Philadelphia 76ers are trading C/F Johni Broome and a second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations, sources tell ESPN. The deal allows the 76ers to stay under both first and second aprons while signing LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope,”
Before that, the Sixers had already waived former first-round pick Dalen Terry to create more flexibility. NBA writer Jake Weinbach explained the step by writing, “The Sixers waive Dalen Terry to clear space for LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Terry, a former first-round pick, had a non-guaranteed contract for the upcoming season. Philadelphia must still move one additional player to create enough room for both additions,”
Philadelphia’s offseason started with a blockbuster trade for former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, and that move helped set the stage for James choosing the Sixers on Friday after a month-long free agency process. Once James committed, the team also reached an agreement with his former teammate Caldwell-Pope.
Bleacher Report posted, “Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is negotiating a buyout with the Grizzlies and intends to sign with the 76ers, per Chris B Haynes. KCP joins Bron in Philly,"
With Broome out the door, the 76ers appear to be done for the summer. It has been a huge turnaround from last season’s No. 7 seed, and Philadelphia now enters the year with one of the league’s most formidable starting fives and a bench that is starting to come together as well.
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