July 5: The Sixers have officially signed Walker to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.
July 3: Free agent forward Jabari Walker has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the Sixers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The son of former NBA forward Samaki Walker and the 57th overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Colorado, Jabari Walker has spent his first three professional NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers. He played a significant role for the team in 2023/24, averaging 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game across 72 total outings (23 starts).
Walker’s minutes were cut back in ’24/25 following the arrival of Deni Avdija and the emergence of Toumani Camara, but he was a positive contributor in a more limited role, setting career highs in field goal percentage (51.5%) and three-point percentage (38.9%) as he averaged 5.2 PPG and 3.5 RPG in 60 contests (12.5 MPG).
The Blazers had the opportunity to make Walker a restricted free agent by issuing him a $2.58MM qualifying offer over the weekend, but chose not to do so, allowing him to become unrestricted.
Given his age (23 later this month) and experience as a rotation player, I’m a little surprised Walker will end up on a two-way contract, but it’s a nice get for the Sixers, who have made it a priority to get younger this summer. On his two-way deal, the 6’7″ forward will be eligible to be active for up to 50 NBA regular season games. Exceeding that limit – and playing in the postseason – would require a promotion to the standard roster.
Walker will fill Philadelphia’s third and final two-way slot, joining Alex Reese and Hunter Sallis.
Good pick up by Morey. Signing George was not bright but Drafting McCain and Trading for Grimes great moves.
You used a 2W signing to praise Morey, the worst GM in league history who deserves to be blacklisted from the game. You don’t know ball. Morey sucks and so does this signing.
lol
Another nepo on a two way contract, stealing a spot from a player who’s daddy didn’t open every door for them. NBA gotta reel this in, either be Steph Curry, or go to Europe.
Really? It’s not like his dad is LeBron. It’s Samaki Walker. You think anyone in the league is like “damn, we owe it to Samaki Walker to give his kid a job!?!”
Uhhh the entire league has been doing that hardcore for the last decade…why are you so mad? Are your parents rich too?
What a silly take that makes absolutely no sense.
I think more blame has to land at George’s feet than Morey’s for George falling off a cliff.
I like this pickup. They have no cap space, he’s only 23 and his numbers if you stretch them out are comparable to the dancing bear who just got paid $12 million. Sixers need to get younger and more athletic. No such thing as a bad 2 way contract. It works or it doesn’t. No loss.
Hi energy with a plus, plus GTQ.
I’m not gonna lie for about 3 seconds my mind went to Jabari Parker and I was very confused
Celtics should have signed him.