The Sixers sign four undrafted players after the NBA Draft

Sitting without an NBA Draft pick on Thursday, the Sixers had to sign undrafted free agents to add to their roster. I recently wrote about the position that should be targeted and what players could potentially be available.

One of the players in the article, Ricky Council IV, went undrafted and NBA Insider Shams Charania tweeted out that the Sixers agreed to a two-way contract with Council.

Charania also tweeted that the Sixers agreed to two-way contracts with Azuolas Tubelis and Terquavion Smith. Senior Staff Writer for The Philly Voice, Kyle Neubeck, tweeted the Sixers added their fourth player in the undrafted free agent market when they signed Marcus Bagley to an Exhibit 10 contract.

So it’s great that the 76ers were able to get four new players on the roster, but who are they?

Ricky Council IV is a 6’5″ wing player from Arkansas who is super athletic. He’s a highlight waiting to happen and is the most talented player that the Sixers signed after the draft. His biggest weakness is his shooting which could prevent him from getting minutes in the NBA.

Azuolas Tubelis is a 6’11” Lithuanian big man who played college basketball at Arizona. He’s the new Euro-style big man who has great shooting touch and can handle the ball on the perimeter. Lack of athleticism is the biggest red flag with Tubelis. I’m not sure what his role would be in the NBA unless he becomes a truly finesse knockdown shooter and plays on the perimeter.

Marcus Bagley is a 6’8″ wing from Arizona State who fits the modern “3 and D” mold. He’s a very good athlete who rebounds his position well and has the ability to hit threes. Bagley is a raw player who will need to specialize strictly in shooting and wing defense if he wants to make an NBA roster.

Terquavion Smith is a 6’2″ guard from NC State who is one of the best shooters in this draft class. With a 6’7″ wingspan, he should still be able to get his shot off at the next level against bigger defenders. The biggest concern with Smith is his slight frame. He only weighs around 160 pounds and would be a liability on defense at that weight.

Will any of these players make the 76ers’ roster?

The short answer would be no. However, the two-way contracts for Council, Tubelis, and Smith open the door for them to make NBA appearances in case of injury, while also developing in the G-League. Projecting further down the line, here are my early predictions as the Sixers get ready for Summer League basketball.

Council has the best shot of this group to play in the NBA. His athleticism is something that can’t be taught and could open up doors for him as the rest of his game comes.

I don’t think Tubelis will ever play in the NBA. His lack of athleticism scares me when there isn’t something he specializes in. I like his game but don’t think it fits onto the Sixers roster.

Bagley has a shot at making the league down the road. It all depends on how fast he can develop. As an older player compared to other developmental types, he’ll need to improve his game rapidly if he wants to stay on the front office’s radar.

It’s hard for me to see someone so slight of a build as Smith makes the NBA. There have been other small-framed players obviously, but they all had elite traits. Smith is a good player, but I’m not sure if his shooting can overshadow the liability that his defense would be on the court.

• Published on 06/23/2023 at 5:15 PM EDT
• Last updated on 06/23/2023 at 5:15 PM EDT