Philadelphia 76ers sign Ricky Council IV to multiyear NBA contract

The Philadelphia 76ers are signing two-way swingman Ricky Council IV to a 4-year/$7.4 million contract, which adds $864 in additional money this season according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

In 31 games with the 76ers, Council averaged 5.5 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game logging 9.1 minutes per contest. With the Delaware Blue Coats, Council put up averages of 23.1 points per game and 5.4 boards per game on 46.7% shooting from the field in 11 games.

Following the 2023 NBA draft, Council, who came out of the University of Arkansas, was originally an undrafted free agent and the 76ers quickly inked him to a two-way contract. 

Ricky Council IV had a series of impressive games with Philadelphia this season including a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Washington Wizards in February and more recently, 11 points and 4 steals in a double overtime victory vs. the San Antonio Spurs last Sunday where he heavily contributed in crunch time.

What does Ricky Council IV bring?

If you regularly tuned into 76ers games this season, then you’d know that Ricky Council IV wasn’t your everyday two-way player with a cool play or two here and there. Council plays with a high motor and always looks to impose his will when his number is called.

Council’s ability to get to the rim off the bounce is his premier skill and he does so with aggressiveness. Council routinely overpowers defenders off the point-of-attack with his explosive athleticism and scores with ease while drawing contact a lot of the time.

RICKY COUNCIL FINALLY GOT HIS NBA CONTRACT LETS GOOOI pic.twitter.com/oO5u8BqBk3

— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) April 13, 2024

In a short period with Philadelphia, Council has improved other facets of his game such as playing off the ball. Council has thrived as a back-cutter as of late, especially when feeding off of Tyrese Maxey’s rim gravity. Council also showed flashes of playmaking off the dribble drawing defenders and using that defensive attention to create offense for weak-side shooters.

Council will only improve as an all-around player playing next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who command a high amount of defensive attention, which will only open up the floor for Council to explode to the rim as well as knock down spot-up shots and with the way Nick Nurse emphasizes defense, Council will undoubtedly mold into a sound two-way wing that is so desired in today’s NBA.

Locking up Council to a multiyear deal was an essential move from the 76ers front office as the rookie wing has shown loads of raw potential as an athletic slasher who could very well blossom into at least a borderline all-star.

Nick Nurse said Ricky Council IV has “absolutely earned” his new four-year deal.

Nurse said he sees Council as being on the bubble of the Sixers’ rotation and a potential “X-factor” sort of player.

— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) April 13, 2024

Roster implications of signing Ricky Council IV

With the signing of guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. last week and Ricky Council IV’s deal now converted, the 76ers have 15 players heading into the postseason right before the NBA’s Sunday deadline to convert two-way players.

As it currently stands, Philadelphia only has four players on the books for next season being Joel Embiid, Paul Reed, Jeff Dowtin Jr, and now Ricky Council IV, which gives the 76ers a ton of flexibility to give all-star Tyrese Maxey a handsome contract extension and the ammunition to pursue a star player via free agency or trade.

Daryl Morey can be criticized about a plethora of different transactions and issues over the past few years, but one aspect he’s unquestionably excelled at is finding diamonds in the rough like Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe, who the 76ers controversially waived, and now Ricky Council IV. 

When you consider the fact that the 76ers didn’t have a single pick in last year’s NBA draft, to come out on top with a promising young piece in Ricky Council IV is nothing short of an impressive move by Morey and company.

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