Sixers release Marial Shayok as they continue to prepare for free agency

Shayok had an extremely impressive first year in the Sixers system, lighting up the G-League as the Delaware Blue Coats go-to scorer. Playing in 36 games for the Blue Coats, Shayok averaged 22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. His ability to space the court and shoot off the dribble were specifically impressive, as he shot over 45% from the floor and 35.8% from three.

Of all the moves that Elton Brand and the previous Sixers front office made last offseason, identifying Shayok in the second round of the draft was viewed as one of their better ones.

Shayok did end up debuting in the NBA, playing in four games for the Sixers towards the end of the regular season. He scored 11 total points, logged 7 rebounds, and turned the ball over 4 times.

Shayok’s release likely has far less to do with his ability as a basketball player, and more to do with Morey’s continued pursuit to create roster flexibility and cap space. After a productive draft night where he completely overhauled the roster, Morey is expected to add even more talent during free agency.

He specifically cited Doc Rivers’ ability to attract talent as something the Sixers planned to utilize this offseason.

The team has been heavily linked to the likes of former Sixer Nerlens Noel, who could come in and hold down the backup center position. They could also look to add even more shooting to the roster, as they continue to build around Joel Embiid’s and Ben Simmons’ strong interior play.

Losing someone like Shayok stings a tad, as he genuinely looked like an intriguing piece moving forward. With that said, Morey undoubtedly has a better plan in place that he’s looking to facilitate over the next couple of hours.