Sixers Signing Darius Bazley To 10-Day Contract

The Philadelphia 76ers intend to sign free agent center/forward Darius Bazley to a 10-day contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Bazley, 23, is 6-foot-8 and is in his fifth pro season. He’s represented by power agent Rich Paul.

Rather than play college basketball or join the G League, Bazley opted to work out on his own following his high school career, then enter the NBA Draft when eligible.

He was selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 23 overall pick in 2019, then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder a week later.

Bazley was traded to the Nets last summer, then waived before camp. Since then, he’s been playing extremely well for the Delaware Blue Coats of the G League. Delaware is the Sixers’ G League squad.

“Entering his fifth NBA season, Bazley is coming off a 38-point, 15-rebound game and averaging 21 PPG and 10 RPG as one of G League’s best,” Charania wrote.

Bazley carries NBA career averages of 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, though he hasn’t appeared in more than 43 games since 2021-22. Last year, he appeared in just seven games with the Phoenix Suns. This year, he’s appeared in none.

But the Sixers can afford to give him a chance, given that they need another big man in the absence of reigning NBA MVP and All-Star center Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia (32-22) has lost seven of 10 and sits in third place in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Bazley’s 10-day deal will presumably start Thursday, when the Sixers host the New York Knicks.

Sources: The Philadelphia 76ers plan to sign forward Darius Bazley to a 10-day contract out of their NBA G League Delaware Blue Coats. Entering his fifth NBA season, Bazley is coming off a 38-point, 15-rebound game and averaging 21 PPG and 10 RPG as one of G League's best. pic.twitter.com/ANtdHR7wD6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 19, 2024