The Philadelphia 76ers intend to signal ahead Justin Edwards to a three-year contract after declining his $1.9 million group choice, sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday.
Justin Edwards Will Earn $2 Million Subsequent Season With 76ers
The 76ers and Klutch Sports activities’ Wealthy Paul and Josh Hairston negotiated the brand new deal for Edwards, who will obtain two assured years on the brand new deal, sources mentioned.
Per Spotrac, Edwards will now earn $2 million subsequent season after the 76ers declined his 2025-26 membership choice. He made simply $425,619 throughout his rookie 2024-25 season.
His deal may embody a group choice within the third 12 months, as that may give the Sixers the flexibility to make him a restricted free agent in 2027 as an alternative of permitting him to turn into an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
Contracts can’t be formally signed till July 6.
Edwards, who turns 22 in December, went undrafted out of the College of Kentucky final summer time and signed a two-way contract with the Sixers.
Edwards Noticed His Minutes Enhance On An Harm-Plagued Roster
After rising as a key rotation participant amid accidents to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, his two-way deal was transformed into a daily contract after the commerce deadline in February.
“I believe the largest factor … is he matches a necessity and a task for our group proper now,” head coach Nick Nurse mentioned on Feb. 6. “We’d like a wing, we’d like a defender, we’d like a chance scorer. … He works actually arduous on D.
“He appears to make the best performs on offense, whether or not it’s catch and shoot or catch and beat the closeout, or simply swing the ball. “And once more, I like his power and enthusiasm. He’s actually attempting to do all the things at a super-high effort stage, which is a superb place to start out while you’re younger.”
In 44 video games (26 begins), Edwards averaged 10.1 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 26.3 minutes per contest whereas capturing 45.5% from the sphere and 36.3% from 3-point territory.
He scored a season-high 25 factors in a 118-102 residence loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Jan. 14 and in a 128-120 street defeat towards Sacramento Kings on March 21.
Andre Drummond Exercised His $5 Million Participant Possibility For 2025-26
Since 77%, or roughly $146 million, of Philadelphia’s payroll is tied up in Embiid, George, and Maxey, the Sixers lack roster flexibility. The Sixers’ offseason funds may also be impacted by contract choices for Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Drummond picked up his $5 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season on Friday, per Charania. With Embiid sidelined for many of the season, Drummond performed practically 19 minutes per sport throughout 40 contests (23 begins).
He averaged 7.3 factors and seven.8 rebounds per sport whereas capturing 50% from the sphere. His choice was picked up after the 76ers drafted Auburn massive man Johni Broome within the second spherical of the 2025 NBA draft.
76ers Would Achieve $1.5 Million In Flexibility If Gordon Declines His Possibility
If Gordon and Oubre Jr. additionally decide in previous to June 29, the Sixers are proper on the luxurious tax and $7.5 million under the primary apron. These two have participant choices for subsequent season value a mixed $12 million.
The 76ers would achieve a further $1.5 million in flexibility if Gordon declines his choice after which re-signs at a decrease quantity. They do have $9.5 million in nonguaranteed contracts and the group choices of Ricky Council IV, Jared Butler, and Lonnie Walker IV.
The 2025 NBA free company interval begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
