Daryl Morey's gamble on signing two-way players has finally paid off for the Philadelphia 76ers. The team's depth has been tested with lengthy absences from key players like Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr., but the two-way signings of Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker have proven to be a game-changer.
Barlow, who started on opening night, has shown incredible versatility at power forward, grabbing five offensive rebounds in a crucial win over the Boston Celtics. His athleticism and effort are undeniable, and he has quickly become a staple in the 76ers' rotation. Coach Nick Nurse praises Barlow's ability to execute the coaching staff's concepts, including switching and blitz packages.
Walker, on the other hand, was expected to be a more significant contributor from the start of the season. The 23-year-old point forward has been instrumental in improving the team's rebounding, particularly on the offensive end, where he averages over 6 rebounds per game. His ability to finish at the rim and grab boards is unparalleled.
The success of Barlow and Walker is a testament to Morey's strategy of targeting young players who can provide value through two-way deals. The sixers' track record of signing players to two-way contracts, only to watch them earn standard contracts with the team, was an attractive pitch for prospective two-way signees.
However, not every team is willing to give two-way players unlimited rope. Barlow has been active just 13 times this season due to injury, while Walker has played in all but one game. The Sixers' reliance on these players highlights the benefits of signing them to two-way deals, which allows for flexibility and risk management.
The Sixers have suddenly become a force at power forward, thanks in large part to Barlow's emergence. Nurse praises the 22-year-old's athleticism and situational awareness, noting that he understands and executes the coaching staff's concepts with ease.
Walker has made significant strides as a playmaker, particularly alongside Tyrese Maxey. His ability to finish at the rim and grab boards is invaluable, and his defensive skills are not to be underestimated.
The team's success with Barlow and Walker has given them an edge in terms of depth and flexibility. The two players have already proven themselves to be quality mix-and-match options, and their minutes have increased accordingly.
However, there is still a question mark surrounding the fate of Hunter Sallis, the 22-year-old undrafted rookie who made his NBA debut just last week. His time in the rotation has been limited due to injuries, but he is doing all the work he can to position himself for a standard contract when his two-way availability runs out.
The Sixers are facing a dilemma: do they convert one of Walker or Barlow to a standard contract now, or wait until their remaining two-way activations expire? If they make a deal at the trade deadline, it could open up a roster spot and prevent any difficult decisions from being made. Otherwise, someone like Eric Gordon could be at risk of getting waived.
For an organization that has struggled accumulating and retaining depth throughout Joel Embiid's career, this is a wonderful problem to have. The Sixers' ability to capitalize on the two-way market has been tremendous, and it could end up paying dividends for years to come.
Barlow, who started on opening night, has shown incredible versatility at power forward, grabbing five offensive rebounds in a crucial win over the Boston Celtics. His athleticism and effort are undeniable, and he has quickly become a staple in the 76ers' rotation. Coach Nick Nurse praises Barlow's ability to execute the coaching staff's concepts, including switching and blitz packages.
Walker, on the other hand, was expected to be a more significant contributor from the start of the season. The 23-year-old point forward has been instrumental in improving the team's rebounding, particularly on the offensive end, where he averages over 6 rebounds per game. His ability to finish at the rim and grab boards is unparalleled.
The success of Barlow and Walker is a testament to Morey's strategy of targeting young players who can provide value through two-way deals. The sixers' track record of signing players to two-way contracts, only to watch them earn standard contracts with the team, was an attractive pitch for prospective two-way signees.
However, not every team is willing to give two-way players unlimited rope. Barlow has been active just 13 times this season due to injury, while Walker has played in all but one game. The Sixers' reliance on these players highlights the benefits of signing them to two-way deals, which allows for flexibility and risk management.
The Sixers have suddenly become a force at power forward, thanks in large part to Barlow's emergence. Nurse praises the 22-year-old's athleticism and situational awareness, noting that he understands and executes the coaching staff's concepts with ease.
Walker has made significant strides as a playmaker, particularly alongside Tyrese Maxey. His ability to finish at the rim and grab boards is invaluable, and his defensive skills are not to be underestimated.
The team's success with Barlow and Walker has given them an edge in terms of depth and flexibility. The two players have already proven themselves to be quality mix-and-match options, and their minutes have increased accordingly.
However, there is still a question mark surrounding the fate of Hunter Sallis, the 22-year-old undrafted rookie who made his NBA debut just last week. His time in the rotation has been limited due to injuries, but he is doing all the work he can to position himself for a standard contract when his two-way availability runs out.
The Sixers are facing a dilemma: do they convert one of Walker or Barlow to a standard contract now, or wait until their remaining two-way activations expire? If they make a deal at the trade deadline, it could open up a roster spot and prevent any difficult decisions from being made. Otherwise, someone like Eric Gordon could be at risk of getting waived.
For an organization that has struggled accumulating and retaining depth throughout Joel Embiid's career, this is a wonderful problem to have. The Sixers' ability to capitalize on the two-way market has been tremendous, and it could end up paying dividends for years to come.
they've got this crazy depth now that's allowing them to win games even with some key guys out sick 
like embiid and george. daryl morey's gamble on signing these two-way players was a risk but it's clearly paying off big time 
i'm loving the flexibility this gives the team and its gonna be awesome to see where they take it from here 
. Barlow's been a game-changer at power forward, and Walker's been killing it with his rebounding skills 
. Its clear that these deals are giving the Sixers some much-needed flexibility, especially with injuries piling up on key players. I mean, its not like they're just throwing around two-way contracts willy-nilly 
, but they're making smart moves to stay ahead of the curve.
. Does the team really want to lose him when his two-way deal expires? And what about Eric Gordon - could he be on the chopping block if someone like Walker or Barlow gets converted to a standard contract 
? It all adds up to a bit of a roster management headache, but at least its a problem that Philly is used to dealing with 
.
daryl morey's gamble is finally paying off, i mean, barlow and walker are like a game-changer 
and jabari's rebounding is insane 
. I mean, its not just about the talent they bring, but also the flexibility it gives them in terms of lineup changes and injury management 
. The fact that they can flip those two-way deals to standard contracts is a game-changer too 
But now, the Sixers are facing a dilemma – do they convert one of these guys to a standard contract or wait it out? 
.
. The Sixers' depth is a game-changer, especially with Barlow and Walker contributing so much to their power forward unit 
. Maybe Morey will make another savvy move and give one of them a standard deal when the time is right 
.
they got these two guys Barlow & Walker who are like game changers on the court 
barlow is literally unstoppable at power forward and walker is a beast at rebounding 
I just hope he can prove himself before his 2-way days are up. It's a gamble that could pay off big time, but what if it all falls apart? 
. The 76ers are probably just trying to distract us from the fact that they're actually rebuilding around Joel Embiid's injury-prone career 
. They need depth, sure, but it's not like they're actually investing in their future 
. And I gotta give props to Coach Nurse for seeing Barlow and Walker's potential from the start – it's clear he knows what he's doing! 
The Sixers' depth has been tested, but these two players have stepped up big time 
. Now we just gotta see how they play it smart with Hunter Sallis – will they convert one of them to a standard contract or wait and see? 