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Philadelphia 76ers sign star who was tipped to be ‘poor man’s Pascal Siakam’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Philadelphia 76ers are taking a chance on a player who had high expectations coming into the NBA.

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t achieve their goal last season. After signing Paul George, the 76ers were ready to compete for an NBA championship.

But everything fell apart as they were ravaged by injuries. The 76ers ended up a lottery team, but that actually worked to their favor.

They were rewarded the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, with which the 76ers picked VJ Edgecombe. The 76ers seem confident in their roster heading into the new year.

Perhaps this is why Philadelphia is content to run it back with Joel Embiid and Paul George. Even if many believe there are problems that George and Embiid face heading into the new season.

But maybe their new-look roster is equipped to handle these struggles, especially as they sign another role player, who once drew comparisons to Pascal Siakam.

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Philadelphia 76ers sign Portland Trail Blazers star Jabari Walker

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly set to sign Jabari Walker as a free agent. Walker was the 57th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and played for the Portland Trail Blazers for the last three years.

Ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft, Walker was compared to Pascal Siakam, with projections suggesting his ceiling was to be a mediocre version of the Cameroonian star.

“Did not break out into the star that some envisioned in his sophomore season at Colorado… Figures to be taken somewhere in the early to mid second round and could end up a real sleeper if he lands in the right situation… Projects as a poor man’s Pascal Siakam …”

During his time in the NBA, Walker has done little to justify those comparisons, slotting into a rotation player role and never averaging more than nine points per game.

Daryl Morey staying put with current roster

Jabari Walker is one of the major signings the Philadelphia 76ers have made in free agency. Aside from him, President Daryl Morey hasn’t felt it necessary to mess with the roster too much.

Of course, one of the big questions right now for the 76ers is the future of Quentin Grimes. The former Knicks star is a restricted free agent, but has yet to negotiate a new contract with the team.

Perhaps the 76ers are looking to the market to gauge his value before matching any offer or contract that he receives from another team.

This is an approach many teams in the NBA are taking with restricted free agents. Grimes is most likely to return, as the 76ers have brought back most of their roster from last season.

But the team might be reaching balloon point, as their salary bill will surely inflate with Grimes’ eventual contract.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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