The decision to part ways with Johni Broome to make room for their additions caught some people by surprise. However, with the incoming sophomore already getting shown the way out by the Clippers, it definitely looks like the Philadelphia 76ers made the right call to cut ties with the young big man instead of their other players currently on the roster.
As first reported by NBA insider Jake Fischer, LA's front office decided to waive Broome before training camp opens, which is unfortunate timing for last year's 35th overall pick. It would appear that the league's talent evaluators are not that high on the Auburn product at this moment, which is pretty reflective of how the 76ers viewed him as a rookie. As people can recall, the team had him almost exclusively play for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League last season.
76ers get vindicated early on as Johni Broome gets waived before camp
The decision to draft Broome in the first place confounded a lot of people closely following the 76ers. Daryl Morey was still at the helm back then, but he was a rather unconventional selection for the team given the longtime executive's preferred player archetype and Broome's dangling fit as a big man. It never really made a lot of sense for Philly to have him that high on their board.
Now, the optics of the situation do not do Broome any favors. If a Clippers team in a state of flux and in dire need of project pieces would not take a flier on the young big man even for an audition in training camp, that would send an adverse message to the rest of the league. As mentioned, the time element of this harsh decision also works against his bid to stay in the NBA.
There is still some things to like about Broome's prospect as a rotation-caliber big man in the league. His offensive repertoire is more extensive than most big men his age, although he has to show that his perimeter shot can be consistent. After all, his rebounding and defensive acuity are below average for his position.
Hopefully, another team out there in need of a young big man will take a chance on Broome. It did not work out for him with the 76ers, and the Clippers did not even bother to give him a chance, but a different squad with a stronger commitment to a youth movement might see him in a different light.
Be that as it may, the 76ers surely made the right call to cut Johni Broome's stint with the franchise short. He simply does not fit them at this juncture, and they never really had the patience required to take on a project like him.
