The 76ers drafted a power forward who plays like a point guard, Ben Simmons. They signed a combo guard who can capably play point guard, Jerryd Bayless.
Now, Philadelphia has finally added a true point guard: Sergio Rodriguez.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Euroleague star Sergio Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2016
Rodriguez, the No. 27 pick in the 2006 draft, spent four seasons in the NBA. He played three years for the Trail Blazers, split the 2009-10 season between the Kings and Knicks then returned to Europe.
He’s a pass-first point guard who should help the 76ers immediately. Then, they’re no longer on the hook for the 30-year-old.
The NBA’s massive salary-cap boom should draw more overseas players like Rodriguez and Malcolm Delaney, who’s signing with the Hawks. With foreign leagues still offering similar contracts to previous years, the NBA has expanded its advantage. This is a small drop in the bucket for Philadelphia, but it’s far more than Rodriguez would’ve earned by staying in Europe.