Philadelphia Sixers make Guerschon Yabusele a priority this summer
In Philadelphia’s difficult season, Guerschon Yabusele (2.01 m, 29 years) has been one of the few bright spots. After an impressive Paris Olympics, the Olympic silver medalist signed with the Sixers for one season at the minimum salary. It proved to be a successful gamble for the Dancing Bear who, a year after paying 1.8 million euros out of his pocket to leave Real Madrid and try the American adventure again, is seeing his NBA stock soar.
Averaging 11 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27 minutes across 71 games, Yabusele has shown he can have a role in the NBA, something he didn’t get after being drafted by the Celtics. In the absence of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the Frenchman even expanded his role in all aspects of the game, posting scoring highs (up to 28 points against Denver) and rebounding (15 against Indiana). Other franchises have noticed, Yabusele is now coveted, and they would like to offer him more than a veteran minimum.
Flexibility for Yabusele
Philadelphia General Manager Daryl Morey naturally doesn’t want to see his player leave. Despite a significant salary cap that could prevent him from being financially competitive, he remains confident in his ability to extend the Frenchman, according to Marc Stein.
Aware of his mistakes last summer, Daryl Morey started a « new project » at the trade deadline to create enough salary flexibility to compete with offers made to Yabusele. Thus, with the exchange between Quentin Grimes and Caleb Martin, the Sixers would now be able to offer 14 million dollars per season to the French power forward, or less if Philly wants to keep Grimes who also performed well at the end of the season. It remains to be seen if this amount, revised downward or not, will be enough to convince the player, for whom Philly is « a special place. »
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