Although the Philadelphia 76ers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey have had to deal with outside organizations whisking away their second-round draft picks, it seems this time that the Sixers may have robbed someone else.
In the void left by injuries and suspensions to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and other games missed by Kelly Oubre Jr. due to illness, 23-year-old power forward Jabari Walker has stepped up in a major way.
Jabari Walker Has Reached New Heights with Kelly Oubre Jr. Sidelined
Drafted 57th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022, the six-foot-seven Walker was described as a solid defender and inside scorer who needed to work on his playmaking and shooting coming out of Colorado. In his first three seasons, Walker put up a respectable 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game with 24 starts across 188 contests.
The Trail Blazers didn't bring Walker back when his contract expired, leaving him available on the open market in favor of others amid Year 5 of their rebuild. What was most surprising was that Walker could only command a two-way deal, as the Sixers opted to help him develop as a player while coming off the bench.
Fast forward to now, and 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has turned Walker into a legitimate contributor.
After receiving a DNP decision on March 1 against the Boston Celtics, Walker put up back-to-back performances in which he scored at least 20 points and played at least 19-plus minutes. In Philadelphia’s 106-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Walker was crucial off the bench, dropping a season-high 22 points, which was just three off the best mark of his career.
Walker’s quick stretch of scoring success can definitely be attributed to the lack of available front-court players for the Sixers against the Jazz, but he may be playing with a certain spark after Morey and the front office handed him a two-year standard contract worth $3.3 million. However, with only $250,000 of it guaranteed, the front office is challenging Walker to keep his production up during the homestretch of the regular season.
With just 20 games left in the regular season, a continuation of Walker’s steady play could lock up some more cash for a guy whose potential is still mostly untapped.
If the Sixers can keep their heads above water or even leapfrog the Toronto Raptors in the season, then Philadelphia may be incentivized to add a sweetener in Walker’s contract. Although that is to be determined, one thing remains clear: the 76ers need to hold on to Walker tightly to avoid another young player leaving Philly and blossoming elsewhere.