Walker no longer in limbo, set to sign standard Sixers contract, per report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jabari Walker should return to action soon — and on a new contract.
The Sixers intend to sign Walker to a two-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday night.
The 23-year-old power forward’s status had been in limbo because he’d reached the two-way contract limit of being active for 50 NBA games. He’d been inactive for the Sixers’ last four before the All-Star break.
Both Walker and Dominick Barlow started the season on two-way deals and earned standard NBA contracts. Walker’s appeared in 45 games and averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest. Though he’s flashed outside shooting ability, Walker’s numbers are subpar on that front (27.0 percent beyond the arc). However, he’s been up for any task, rebounded at an excellent rate and ultimately proven to the Sixers that he merits more than a two-way contract.
“Just the idea and the plan I have for myself, I didn’t see two-way at all,” Walker said at his introductory press conference in July. “I didn’t think that would be a position I was in, but the market and just feedback, it doesn’t lie. So whether that’s things I need to be doing better or whether that’s just the situation, it all led to me being here.
“I’m just grateful for this moment because a lot of people don’t even have this. I’m friends with former teammates that aren’t even in the league anymore. Talking to them, they’re like, ‘Man, take advantage of what you have in front of you.’ So yes, the goal is the (standard) contract, but just me being here and being part of a team that wants to win, playing with all these great guys, I’m just grateful.”
The Sixers’ two-way contract players are now Dalen Terry and MarJon Beauchamp. After the Cameron Payne and Walker signings are official, the team will have 15 players on standard deals.