Latest news with #CleaningtheGlass
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tyrese Maxey goes into detail how Trendon Watford will help Sixers
LAS VEGAS -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to land a versatile forward in the free agency period with the addition of Trendon Watford on a 2-year $5.3 million deal. Watford averaged a career-high 10.2 points along with 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2024-25 season. Watford is an interesting player who can do a lot of different things on the floor for Philadelphia. He stands at 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, can put the ball on the floor, and is able to score the ball at an efficient rate while also being able to grab rebounds and initiate the offense. Tyrese Maxey, who is one of Watford's best friends, went into detail of how the new addition can help Philadelphia on the floor. "I think he brings an element that we haven't had," Maxey said about Watford. "An element of someone who can rebound and kind of push and create, who can guard multiple positions on the other end. At the end of day, we have somebody throw the ball to in the post (Joel Embiid), like in a mismatch circumstance, and he'd get a bucket for us, for sure." To Maxey's point, Watford is a guy who can create for others. Per Cleaning the Glass, he has an assist percentage of 21.1% which ranks in the 92nd percentile. He also had a 1.2% steal percentage which shows his ability to make plays defensively leading to easy baskets on the offensive end for Philadelphia. Versatility is king in today's NBA. "I think it's me being able to play a lot of good positions," Watford added. "I can play off the ball sometimes. Me being able to just do a lot of things on the floor, I think, is big. Obviously, playing alongside three great players, Jo, PG (Paul George) so, you know, I think my versatility helps that, and, you know, my ability to just play with great players." Throw in the fact that Watford is joining a situation featuring a familiar face in Maxey, all of this has the makings of being a terrific fit for both sides. "So I think he'll do a lot of different things," Maxey finished. "I think it's the perfect platform for him to showcase his talent and help a team that's trying to win."
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers' Jabari Walker reveals lessons from Blazers coach Chauncey Billups
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers brought in a solid big man in free agency in the form of Jabari Walker. The Sixers brought him in on a two-way deal which is insane value for a player who can step in and play right away. The No. 57 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, Walker spent three years with the Portland Trail Blazers averaging 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 188 total games. He took a big step forward as a 3-point shooter in 2024-25 as he shot 38.9% from deep in an effort to expand his game. Per Cleaning the Glass, he shot 53% on corner 3s. He took a big leap forward in the 3-point shooting department and was able to take steps forward in the pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop game as well. Walker played for a rebuilding team in Portland, but he was coached by Chauncey Billups who had a ton of success during his playing career including winning finals MVP in 2004. Billups helped Walker take steps forward and the newest Sixer revealed the biggest lesson he took from his former coach. "Keep the main thing the main thing," Walker said. "I think what separates guys is knowing what they bring and being able to do that at a high level, and obviously, working on things to bring that at some point. I think I've learned my role and the things that I do at a high level here that'll always keep me on the floor. Then there's times like during the summer right now where I'm working on things that nobody knows I really have so that when the time comes, I can show that.' The biggest step forward Walker took under the tutelage of Billups and his staff was as a 3-point shooter. As mentioned, he shot a respectable percentage in 2024-25, but that was after he shot only 28.6% as a rookie and 29.5% in his second season in the league. He only attempted 1.2 triples per game in his final season in Portland, but the work he put in was important. "First off, it would be very important in a situation like this," Walker said of his 3-point shooting. "Just relieving pressure off the main guys. We have some great ball-handlers and creators and they attract a lot of attention so what's needed is that 3-point shot. I think putting a lot of time into it has helped me a lot." Obviously, it took some time, but that time with the Blazers allowed Walker to steps forward and grow into who he is currently as a player. "It took me a year or two just to get adjusted to the 3-point line," Walker explained. "I don't think my legs had enough to comprehend the game and then being efficient from the line so I took a summer just strictly shooting, changed some things about my form to make a little bit more fluid, and it's been effective. It showed that with the limited shots." The Sixers will hope that Walker's time with Billups will help him in this new situation in Philadelphia.
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers' Trendon Watford explains where his versatility comes from
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Trendon Watford on a 2-year $5.3 million deal to begin free agency in an effort to add more versatility and ball-handling to a roster that needs it. There is a lot that Watford can bring to the roster and the Sixers will look to unlock everything he can bring to the table. Standing at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Watford is an underrated passer as he averaged 2.6 assists in the 2024-25 season and had an assist percentage of 21.1% per Cleaning the Glass. He has the ability to play on the perimeter and make things happen on the offensive end while also playing inside and being able to provide an athletic component at the big man spots. One has to wonder where Watford found all of this versatility. It's hard to play multiple positions in the NBA, but it helped that he was put in the right position to develop that aspect of his game. "Just playing different positions since I got in the league," Watford started. "I came in as probably a small-ball 5 with Portland and sort of transitioned to playing backup point guard the last two years and point forward the last two years so just being comfortable with the ball and being comfortable playing off great players." Playing with the Trail Blazers was a big help for Watford as he was in a rebuilding situation which led to a lot of experimentation on the floor in terms of roles. He will be able to play plenty of different positions on the floor for the Sixers as he played bigger with the Blazers and then played a more perimeter role while with the Brooklyn Nets. While he was able to play off Damian Lillard during his time in Portland, Watford will be looking to play off Joel Embiid, Paul George, and close friend Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia. "Coming from Portland playing with Dame, playing with a great point guard like that, I never had the chance to play with an MVP-caliber big man," Watford finished. "So I'm looking forward to that." One can certainly expect Watford to play a number of different roles in Philadelphia. Especially, when considering how coach Nick Nurse loves to use players in different roles so this is a great situation for him. Now, he just needs to perform on the floor to help the Sixers bounce back from a miserable 24-58 season.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Get to know new Sixers addition Jabari Walker and how he can help
The Philadelphia 76ers made their second addition of free agency with the signing of Jabari Walker to a two-way deal. Walker, the No. 57 pick of the 2022 NBA draft, averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds across 188 games in three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. The fact that the Sixers got Walker on a two-way deal is a steal. He is somebody who could be in the rotation at some point for Philadelphia as he is a skilled big man with size and can help the Sixers on both ends of the floor. Here is a complete profile on Walker and how he can help the Sixers right away: Walker's profile and career thus far The son of former NBA power forward Samaki Walker, Jabari was selected by the Blazers in the second round in 2022 out of the University of Colorado and received minutes right away. He played in 56 games as a rookie averaging 11.1 minutes for the rebuilding Blazers and produced some solid numbers across his three seasons in the Pacific Northwest. He averaged 7.1 rebounds in the 2023-24 season and 4.5 rebounds overall across the three seasons. The Sixers will be looking for him to bring that rebounding rate to Philadelphia in an effort to help a thin frontline at the moment. Walker on offense Walker's got work to do on the offensive end, but he progressed in a big way in 2024-25. He shot 38.9% from deep on 1.2 attempts per game, and per Cleaning the Glass, shot 53% on corner 3s. He took a big leap forward in the 3-point shooting department and was able to take steps forward in the pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop game as well. He is also a more than solid offensive rebounder as he averaged 1.4 offensive rebounds per game in his three seasons with Portland. Offensive rebounding is an important skill and Walker brings that to Philadelphia. If he can continue building a reliable jumper, then he will have a permanent spot in this team's rotation. Walker on defense Cleaning the Glass states that Walker had a steal percentage of 1.8% in 2024-25 which is in the 88th percentile. When watching some of Walker's tape with the Blazers, it's obvious that he has a ton of good instincts on that end of the floor. He has quick feet, quick hands, and understands how to play NBA-level defense. It is still so surprising to see that the Sixers got him on a two-way deal because he can do a lot of positive things on the floor and Philadelphia could use him in its rotation when considering the loss of Guerschon Yabusele. It will be interesting to see how coach Nick Nurse uses him in the 2025-26 season.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Free agency addition Trendon Watford addresses his fit with Sixers
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers prioritized versatility, ball-handling, and depth with the addition of Trendon Watford early in free agency. The Sixers have been in need of somebody with his skillset as he stands at 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and is an excellent passer. Per Cleaning the Glass, Watford had an assist percentage of 21.1% in 2024-25 which is in the 92nd percentile. That is a number that will be helpful on a team like Philadelphia as he plays next to the likes of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and close friend Tyrese Maxey. His fit could be a bit clunky due to him not being an elite 3-point shooter, but Watford keeps defenders honest and can really make plays by putting the ball on the floor and making plays with his passing. "Just being able to use my IQ to play off of them," Watford said of his fit. "I played with a great guard in Damian Lillard when I was in Portland, so just being able to play off some great players that I've played with already. Just valuing my IQ. I think they're obviously three great players and they're going to be the three guys leading our team. I think it's just finding where I can fit in, using my IQ and using what I can do to be out on the court." It's rare to see a guy as big as Watford be able to put the ball on the floor and make plays with his passing. The Sixers will be looking to him to provide some secondary ball-handling and playmaking next to Maxey and it sounds like he is ready to do it at a high level. Of course, he has been training for this moment for as long as he could remember. His father made sure that he has the skills to play on the perimeter since he was a kid. "I tell this story all the time," he smiled. "I was bigger than everybody else. My dad coached me and would never let a coach put me in the post and was always working on my ball-handling and I guess he knew the bigger picture of me growing and being able to use my ball-handling and get downhill and be able to play make for myself and others so I would say that started—you go back to college and me being able to have the ball in my hands and be able to play make and get guys involved so I think it's been a journey with that." As mentioned, Watford is not the best 3-point shooter so that is something that could make the fit a bit clunky at times, but there are positive signs. He did shoot 39.7% from deep in the 2023-24 season on 1.1 attempts per game. He upped the attempts to 2.0 in 2024-25 as he shot just 33% from deep. The Sixers will be looking for him to continue upping those attempts and working with him on that shot. It would be a big help for Philadelphia. "I think I've made big-time progress, especially the last two years with my attempts continuing to go up," Watford said of his shooting. "Now it's just continuing to work on it. Having three great players (Sixers' three stars) that will draw a lot of attention, I'll be able to get a lot of wide-open shots. Just stay in the gym, keep working on it and keep getting better year by year. That's my goal, be better than I was last year."
