Guerschon Yabusele, like many within the NBA hemisphere late Saturday night time, obtained a stark reminder that the upcoming commerce deadline was close to when the Mavericks stunningly dealt Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
“Properly, I really feel like with what occurred final night time, everybody’s in a spot the place you might be moved,” he mentioned on Sunday. “I’m not making an attempt to suppose an excessive amount of about it, and simply come out right here, do my job and do it the perfect as I can.”
Hours earlier, Yabusele began his twenty fourth sport for a 76ers staff he joined as a flier from Actual Madrid following his breakout Olympic run. Philadelphia didn’t even count on the standout productiveness that will observe, thrust into motion following accidents to Joel Embiid, Paul George and others that endured all through the primary half of the season. Yabusele grew to become a spot begin heart, one thing Nick Nurse didn’t think about at first, however from the primary preseason sport in Boston on, he’s performed properly, the top coach mentioned.
Yabusele final performed within the NBA with the Celtics in 2018-19 earlier than they declined his fourth-year staff choice at age 23. He had averaged 2.3 factors per sport on 44.2% capturing throughout 74 video games and virtually grew to become a meme to Boston’s fan base. He later left for Europe not sure if he would ever return.
With out his Paris efficiency final summer time, he won’t have. His productiveness this 12 months, 11.0 factors, 5.5 rebounds and a couple of.0 assists per sport on 51.5% capturing, has a number of NBA groups forward of the deadline per HoopsHype, with the Celtics amongst them. A reunion makes some sense given Philadelphia’s disappointing first half and Yabusele solely taking part in on a one-year, $2.1 million deal.
“If one thing like that occurs, then I’ll speak about it when it occurs,” Yabusele mentioned, requested by CLNS/CelticsBlog a couple of return to Boston. “So far as proper now, I’m making an attempt to fret about our staff. We received a factor happening, we received ups-and-downs, however I really feel like within the final couple of video games, we’ve been exhibiting quite a lot of nice issues, quite a lot of effort, nice power and I’m extra targeted on making an attempt to get some wins, come again within the play-in and, in fact, get the playoffs. Attempt to get our objectives.”
Yabusele and the Sixers almost shocked the Celtics with out Embiid, George and Caleb Martin on Sunday. He shot 8-for-13, hit a pair of threes and threw down an enormous driving slam in site visitors earlier than pounding his chest as Philadelphia’s lead mounted to 26 factors late into the third quarter.
He admitted after the sport that taking part in in opposition to his former staff carried further weight each as a matter of revenge and respect. Yabusele performed with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford early in his profession, went to the Jap Convention Finals as a rookie and discovered the laborious method the problem of breaking into the league — then staying.
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Yabusele seems to be healthier, chiseled and athletic than the final time he performed within the NBA. Caring for his physique, Tatum mentioned, doubtless allowed for the emergence Yabusele skilled to start this 12 months. Previous to his 21 factors in opposition to Boston, he poured 28 on the Nuggets lower than two weeks after his 22-point efficiency at Denver.
“(He’s) advanced fairly a bit,” Horford advised CLNS/CelticsBlog. “I really feel like we at all times noticed the potential in him and I simply suppose he’s capturing the ball a lot better. He has a greater really feel for the sport. I believe taking part in for Actual Madrid was actually useful for him to search out his footing. I believe if he would’ve stayed right here within the league, he wouldn’t have gotten alternatives, and I don’t suppose he would’ve developed. So, I believe that taking part in over there at that degree simply made him quite a bit higher. When he was right here, he was an excellent participant, however he simply wasn’t fairly able to be within the place that he’s in and now, he’s taking it and he’s crushing it, so I count on him to proceed to get higher and to be a gradual man on this league.”
There’s proof Yabusele may assist a staff, significantly a company he’s as aware of because the Celtics. There are additionally indicators the Sixers may embrace a selective fireplace sale on the deadline. Philadelphia traded Martin to Dallas on Tuesday for Quentin Grimes and a second-round choose after signing him to a four-year deal final summer time. The 76ers additionally owe Oklahoma Metropolis their first-round choose from the 2020 Horford commerce. Since they signed Yabusele to a one-year contract, they don’t personal his Chicken rights, and may solely re-sign him to a small increase over his present minimal wage.
The identical would go for the Celtics, who can comfortably take in his contract into their open roster spot with out matching it. He would nearly definitely show to be a pure rental since Boston would face the identical restrictions in protecting him this summer time that Philadelphia does. How a lot of a deal would that earn them? Giving up a second-rounder or two appears like a no brainer since he fills a place of want within the entrance courtroom. A primary could be tougher to forgo given the Celtics’ long-term roster outlook. HoopsHype reported that Denver and New York may additionally pursue Yabusele, groups that want depth extra desperately than Boston, who not too long ago returned to full well being. In the meantime, Yabusele is targeted on staying put, and who may blame him given the success and alternative he’s obtained with the 76ers?
“Clearly, I needed to get this win tonight and I really feel like we performed laborious, we confirmed quite a lot of nice issues,” he mentioned. “I’d say I’m extra apprehensive about this than getting traded. If it does occur, then I’ll be in no matter scenario I gotta be in. I don’t wish to get my head into this slightly an excessive amount of. I’m simply making an attempt to consider taking part in. Proper now, I’m nonetheless a Sixers participant, I hope to remain a Sixers participant and we’re gonna go from there.”
