The Wisconsin Herd’s James Young will reportedly sign a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, seeing him return to the NBA.
As the team with the best record in the NBA G League, the Wisconsin Herd were very likely bracing for the possibility that some of their players could very soon be poached to play at the NBA level.
With Friday marking the beginning of the period in which NBA teams can sign players to 10 Day contracts, the range of options for teams looking to pluck some of the best players from the G League to give them a chance at the next level has increased.
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On Wisconsin’s roster, that seemed likely to create real chances for the teams two leading scorers, Xavier Munford and James Young, to make it back to the big league.
As it turns out, it seems as if Young hasn’t even had to wait for 10 Day deals to kick in, though.
According to Adam Johnson of 2 Ways and 10 Days, Young may still be spending some time in the G League but he’ll be doing so with the Delaware 87ers while also having the chance to spend time in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers are planning to sign James Young of the Wisconsin Herd to a two-way contract, league source tells @2Ways10Days.
— Jawnzun (@jawnzun) January 5, 2018
As had been reported by Derek Bodner earlier on Thursday, the 76ers had waived Jacob Pullen to make room for Young.
The Philadelphia 76ers have waived guard Jacob Pullen. Pullen, signed to a two-way contract, appeared in 3 games for the 76ers and 14 for the 87ers.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 4, 2018
Since being cut by the Bucks in training camp, Young has been an integral piece in the Herd’s success on the season up until this point, and with averages of 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals during his time in Wisconsin, it’s not difficult to understand why he was ultimately signed by the 76ers.
Perhaps even further bolstering his case, Young had his season-high of 41 points against the Delaware 87ers in Delaware earlier in the season.
If, and when, Young’s move is confirmed, the attention of the Herd’s general manager Dave Dean and his front office team will quickly shift to the waiver wire and the players they can bring in to help replace the virtually irreplaceable Young.
The next nervous wait, or perhaps big decision, for the Herd will come in seeing what happens from here with Munford.
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With both Munford and Young, if they can somehow reproduce some of their G League form in the NBA with other teams, questions will be asked of the Bucks as to how they let both players slip away from under their noses.