#ProTops: Charles Bassey, Unsigned by 76ers, Sits Out First Summer League Game
Former WKU center Charles Bassey was supposed to make his NBA summer league debut today but was in street clothes instead.
Former WKU center Charles Bassey was supposed to make his NBA summer league debut today but was in street clothes instead.
He’s not injured, but it looks like it may be because of some contract disputes.
I find this very intriguing on many levels.
First of all, I understand why he would elect to not play if he’s not signed. If he were to somehow get hurt during a summer league game not on a contract, his NBA career would be done before it starts. But why would he not sign yet?
I can’t say for certain but only assume several things. One of them being that it would have to do with him potentially holding out to try to get traded or signed by someone else.
If you keep up with the NBA, you know that the 76ers recently acquired star, free agent center Andre Drummond.
This signing now moves Bassey even further down the 76ers frontcourt depth chart behind Embiid and now Drummond. If he ends up signing with Philadelphia he would likely end up spending a lot of time in Delaware on the 76ers G League team the Blue Coats.
Another potential reason is that the 76ers are still trying to figure out some other contracts on the team to make some cap space. Considering he’s a late second round pick, they may just put him on the back burner until they get Drummond’s contract finalized along with a few others to make sure they are under the salary cap. From what I’ve seen online, the 76ers definitely have some work to do in that area.
I don’t think Bassey is trying to hold out for more money (would be a very risky move when you’re a late second round draft pick) but it is a possibility. I’m not sure if his agent knows that if he signs in Philly that he’ll never get to play so wait and see if he can find someone else to pick him up or what. I just hope all of this doesn’t come back to bite Bassey in the rear end.
It’s still technically the off-season of the NBA and there will likely be more trades down the road. Whether or not Bassey is involved with one or not we’ll have to wait and see. I just hope we get to see him take the court in the NBA sooner rather than later.