The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in an interesting position this coming offseason. While they are not exactly foreign to roster turnovers, they have more ample control over some of their cogs who could hit the open market as they hold team options on a slew of players. However, one guy in particular –– Jabari Walker –– remains on a shaky footing as his deal for next season is only guaranteed for a quarter of a million.
To not belabor the point, though, the better thing for the 76ers to do is to not fully guarantee his deal for next season. Walker did well enough to receive a technical promotion by getting handed a standard NBA contract after starting the season on a two-way deal, but the team will be better off pursuing other options in the open market than stick with him for next season.
Walker actually ended up seeing the hardwood with more frequency than expected this season. He appeared in 64 regular season games, although he did not log much time on the floor on the average, registering just under 12 minutes a night. That perfectly mirrors reality, though –– given his limited skill set, the 76ers cannot really justify to deploy him with consistency.
The 76ers should move on from Jabari Walker before next season begins
The 23-year-old averaged 4.3 points and three rebounds in his limited minutes this season, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from beyond the arc. Those numbers are not bad for someone who is not expected to carry a heavier load than that of a third-stringer, but the team has more pressing needs than to keep an undersized big man without a clear case for more minutes moving forward.
At 6'7", Walker is outsized on a nighly basis agaist opposing big men. While he has an uncanny ability to go after loose balls and crash the board with aggression, that pretty much constitutes his entire game. He is one of the better defenders on the squad, but it is not nearly enough to make up for his lack of acuity on offense.
Walker is not exactly an efficient finisher on the roll, and despite his tolerable three-point shooting, no one will mistake him for a floor-spacer. The 76ers need a more consistent pick-and-pop option, and Walker is simply not reliable enough to fill that role.
Even at a quick glance, the argument for the 76ers to not fully guarantee Walker's contract for next season is stronger. As harsh as that sounds, this team needs clear upgrades in the frontcourt, and keeping a limited player like him will simply be a waste of a roster spot.
