The Sixers have signed free agent Kyle O'Quinn to a one-year deal, according to a report from Philly Voice.
The center will make the league-minimum, according to the report.
O'Quinn, 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, has been in the league for seven seasons, spending time with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. He averages 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds for his career, and has never averaged double-digits in either category. The career backup has started in just 63 of the 443 games he has played in.
Although the team signing yet another center does highlight their need at guard, the move does make sense, especially for the league minimum, and could be a sign that the team does indeed plan to play Al Horford at power forward.
Last season one of the Sixers' biggest needs was at backup center, where their lack of even a competent option in the playoffs was one of the top reasons they were eliminated by the Toronto Raptors. The Sixers outscored the Raptors in the series when Joel Embiid was on the court, but were dominated in the minutes he spent on the bench.
With Horford now in the fold, the belief was that when Embiid was on the bench, Horford would step in at center. That could (and likely will) still happen, but with O'Quinn now on the roster, the Sixers will be able to keep Horford at power forward at times when Embiid is on the bench, and bring in O'Quinn as the top backup. The signing seems to be an indication that the team is set on Horford at power forward and will try to keep his minutes at backup center to a minimum.
O'Quinn is by no means the same quality of player Horford is, and isn't a starting-caliber player — but he is still a big upgrade over what the team had on the bench last season.
Now, it is time for the team to turn their attention to finding some productive backup guards on the free agency market.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
