While the whole world is still adjusting to the news of Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers added to their roster with the acquisition of another point guard.
According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Philly has agreed to a one-year deal with guard Sergio Rodriguez. The deal will be worth around $8 million dollars.
Rodriguez previously spent the last six years playing with Real Madrid in the Euroleague. He averaged 10.9 points and 6.2 assists with Los Blancos in Europe last season and will be looking to bring that type of production to the NBA.
Coming back to the NBA
This won't be Rodriguez's first go around in the Association. Before he left for Europe, he played in the NBA for four years and played for three teams in the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and the New York Knicks.
It looks like playing a while in Europe has seemed to help him reform his game and made him a better player. Now he is back in the NBA and was given a "prove its contract" with the Sixers. He could get a better contract if he proves he can play in the NBA.
What can he bring to Philly?
At 30 years old, Rodriguez will be an elder statesman on the 76ers and will look to bring a veteran presence to the team. The lack of point guard depth is apparent with the Sixers and the signing of Ish Smith to the Detroit Pistons made them more desperate to sign a point guard.
Rodriguez can provide some scoring at the position and can help run the offense. But he will mainly look to be a distributor to the likes of Ben Simmons and the younger players on Philadelphia. Unlike his role at Real Madrid, Rodriguez won't be the main guy on offense but he certainly gets them some solid minutes every game. Philadelphia lost their main facilitator in Smith, who averaged 7 assists per game last season, but could gain a part of if not all of the production back with Rodriguez.
It is a low-risk signing for Philadelphia as the deal is only one year and if it doesn't work out, he's gone.
This is a smart signing by Philadelphia as this is a short term deal and it opens up cap space for them later down the road. It also addresses a need at the point guard spot in the short term. Good move by the 76ers.