Sixers exercise team options on T.J. McConnell, Richaun Holmes

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Brett Brown has made his first official transactions as interim head of basketball operations.

The Sixers on Wednesday exercised team options on T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes for 2018-19, each carrying a $1.6 million value. Both of the contracts are non-guaranteed and don't become guaranteed until Jan. 10, 2019, meaning the Sixers can still waive McConnell or Holmes to create cap space.

Both players will now be entering the final season of their current four-year deals and hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019, unless they're extended. Had the Sixers declined the team options, they would've become restricted free agents this summer. 

In his third NBA season, McConnell averaged 6.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 22.4 minutes. The backup point guard really shined in the Sixers' second-round playoff series against the Celtics, where he was inserted into the starting lineup in Game 4 and powered the Sixers to a win.

While there is some risk with setting up McConnell to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Sixers can't afford to tie up any more of their cap space as they shoot for max free agents this summer.

Holmes was in and out of the rotation last season, only appearing in 48 games as Brown ultimately favored Amir Johnson as his backup center. When he wasn't receiving a DNP-CD, Holmes averaged 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.

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