Philadelphia 76ers to Sign Center Kai Jones to 10-day Contract

The Philadelphia 76ers plan to sign former Charlotte Hornets center Kai Jones to a 10-day contract on Friday according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. 

Jones, the 19th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, averaged 2.7 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game, logging an average of 9.1 minutes per contest in his two-year tenure with the Hornets.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported last week that the 76ers were having a meeting/workout with Kai Jones, who has spent the past few months working on himself both on and off the hardwood after being waived by the Charlotte Hornets in October due to his behavior on social media where he requested a trade from Charlotte. 

What Kai Jones Will Bring to the Table

Kai Jones at 6 ’11 will provide the 76ers with athletic two-way production, including the ability to be a serious lob threat off the pick-and-roll and alter shots as a help defender. 

Jones will be an ideal pick-and-roll partner with Tyrese Maxey and Kyle Lowry, two guards who know how to draw defenders off penetration and find the roll-man diving to the paint. 

Per 36 minutes, Kai Jones averaged 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 of which were from the offensive glass last season, which is an accurate representation of Jones’ sound rebounding ability, a category the 76ers have struggled with since Joel Embiid was sidelined. 

Kai Jones’ athleticism will make him a great find in transition where he often leaks out and promptly throws it down. Jones’ high-flying ability also serves him well on the defensive end as he is a quality shot blocker, especially when collapsing into the paint for a weak-side rotation.

THE SIXERS HAVE SIGNED KAI JONES TO A 10 DAY!

Hopefully this man can prove he’s worthy of a rotation partner and contribute to a struggling Sixers squad pic.twitter.com/w84LDgnVrS

— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) March 14, 2024

Kai Jones Roster Implications

The 76ers will now have 14 active players on the roster, which is a must as it’s required by the NBA to have 14+ rostered players, and a team can dip to 13 or 12, as the 76ers did, but for no more than a total of 28 days throughout the season according to Bryan Toporek of Liberty Ballers.

The 76ers now have a center room of Joel Embiid, Paul Reed, Mo Bamba, and Kai Jones. Without Embiid, Nick Nurse now has more to work with in the front-court to help the 76ers stay afloat as the 2023 MVP recovers from his meniscus procedure.

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