The Sixers have made another change with one of their two-way contract spots.
The team announced Monday night that it’s signed forward Louis King to a two-way deal and waived point guard Saben Lee. Rookie wing Julian Champagnie is the Sixers' other two-way player.
King, 23, is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey. He’s played this season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and averaged 20.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals in the G League.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Lee only received two garbage-time NBA appearances as a Sixer. The team signed him in late November when the health of its guards was a major problem, but the Sixers are now near full strength again. Tyrese Maxey (left foot fracture) was the only injured player listed for the Sixers ahead of their Tuesday night game against the Wizards, and head coach Doc Rivers said last week that the third-year guard is “close” to returning.
As a two-way player, King will be eligible to spend time with both the Sixers and their G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He’s previously been on two-way deals for the Pistons and Kings. After surprisingly going undrafted following one college season at Oregon, King has only played in 26 total NBA games.
At the 2019 NBA draft combine, King measured in at slightly under 6-foot-7 without shoes and his wingspan was a touch over 7 feet. That length and his naturally smooth athleticism are clear reasons a team might be drawn to him as a prospect.
NBA
While it’s not the Sixers’ top priority given their current focus on contention, the team would love to find an eventual NBA contributor through a two-way spot. Though the NBA docked the Sixers two second-round picks for premature free-agency discussions this summer, the team does own one 2023 second-rounder. That selection will be the best among the Hawks, Nets and Hornets. Charlotte was 9-24 entering Monday night, so the pick will be high in the second round unless the Hornets can manage a big turnaround.