In the simplest of terms, the Sixers are adding healthy talent to a depleted roster.
The team is signing Tyler Johnson, a source confirmed Monday afternoon to NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.
Johnson's contract is a 10-day deal as part of the roster hardship allowance, a source said.
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ESPN reported Sunday night that a team is permitted to sign a replacement player for each positive COVID-19 case on its roster. It's now mandatory to sign at least one player with two positive cases; at least two with three positive cases; and at least three with four or more positive cases, according to the report. The Sixers currently have Georges Niang, Andre Drummond and Shake Milton in health and safety protocols.
It's not yet known whether Johnson will be available to play in the Sixers' Monday night game against the Celtics in Boston. The team's schedule becomes lighter after Monday with only four remaining contests in the calendar year.
Johnson, 29, has 348 games of NBA experience. He was part of the Nets' second unit at times last postseason, appearing in eight playoff games, but hasn't been in the league this season.
That increases the uncertainty of signing Johnson, though the 6-foot-3 lefty has the résumé of a serviceable ball handler should Sixers head coach Doc Rivers call upon him. He's generally been a low-turnover player (8.9 turnover percentage last season, per Cleaning the Glass).
NBA
Fringe players have shifted into the spotlight lately with rotation players sidelined by COVID-19 and the NBA searching for answers to ensure games continue as scheduled.
Johnson is one player who might get a shot at minutes because of those circumstances, though it doesn't appear he'll be the last.