Former Ragin’ Cajuns center Shawn Long deserves a shot to play in the NBA. Whether that’s with the Sixers or not remains to be seen.
It appears Long will be with the Sixers for at least the next two seasons. Long played most of ’16-’17 with the Sixers D-League team the ’87’s, where he averaged just over 20 points and 11 rebounds a game in about 30 minutes. The Sixers signed him to a 10-day contract March 6th and then for the remainder of the season March 16th. Long’s contract is guaranteed for the rest of this season, but only partial for the next two. Which in turn means the Sixers can move him between NBA and D-League as they see fit.
In the ‘bigs’ Long is averaging 8.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 13 minutes a game. Almost exceeding the 5 and 5 I thought he could get coming off in the bench in 10-15 minutes. Long has scored in double figures in six of his last eight games, including 18 against Brooklyn on Tuesday (4/4). His best game was probably the double-double (15/10) he achieved in only 23 minutes on March 26 against Indiana.
What I’m confused about the ‘partial’ part of his contract. Did he have to sign that to get the guaranteed part for the remaining month this season? That month is certainly worth more than the 39 games he played in the D-League, but it also restricts his shot with another NBA team for another two years.
Meanwhile, highly touted, but often injured Harry Giles has decided to leave Duke after his freshman year when he posted such robust numbers (3.9 ppg/3.8rpg) that ESPN’s Chad Forde has him 14th on his big board. That puts Giles right on the edge of the lottery and guaranteed contract for millions of dollars. (Has Sacramento written all over it).
Giles turns 19, albeit with two bad knees, on April 22, while Long is already 24. So if you want to talk potential five years down the road, Giles may have the edge (Or he may end up more knee injuries and never reach that potential). But if Long can get 15-20 minutes a game, with the Sixers or another team, no reason he can’t provide some series punch off the bench (10/5).
He certainly deserves a chance. I just hope the Sixers give it to him.