Mac McClung
On Valentine’s Day, the Philadelphia 76ers announced the signing of guard Mac McClung on a two-way NBA contract.
As a result, the Sixers have announced they are waiving wing Julian Champagnie to open a roster spot.
McClung is on Philadelphia’s G League Delaware Blue Coats affiliate team, but he received the deal after accepting an invitation to the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
On top of that, McClung was named to the Jordan Rising Stars Game and G League Next Up Game. Needless to say, it is going to be an incredible experience for the young guard.
This is history in the making as McClung is the first G League player to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Despite not having an abundance of opportunities to demonstrate his flashiness on the professional level, McClung is known for his electric high school highlight tape.
Personally speaking, I cannot wait to see what tricks he has up his sleeve for this event.
Joel Embiid
Thankfully, Joel Embiid was informed he will be promoted to the starting lineup for the NBA All-Star Game.
When the All-Star roster was released a few weeks ago, Embiid’s name was not listed as an Eastern Conference starter, but instead in the All-Star reserve pool.
He was snubbed to say the least! Embiid is having another monster season averaging 33.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
But, due to injuries to other players, Embiid was elevated to the starters.
However, it is important to monitor Joel Embiid’s left foot soreness. If the lingering injury is nagging him prior to the game, it may be better to be safe than sorry and sit out of the event.
Backup Centers
Another transaction for the 76ers on February 14 was the signing of veteran center Dewayne Dedmon for the remainder of the season.
This one was a bit of a head scratcher in my opinion, but if one thing is for certain, the 76ers love backup centers that are towards the end of their career.
Dedmon averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 30 games with the Miami Heat this season.
More surprisingly, Dedmon has been struggling to secure a backup position in Miami. He was being challenged for minutes by an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract.
Hopefully this signing proves me wrong, but it looks like another season where the 76ers don’t have a trustworthy backup center for their star big man, Joel Embiid.
Featured Image: Mary Kate Ridgeway/via Getty Images
