The Philadelphia 76ers plan to keep veteran forward Anthony Tolliver on the roster for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are going to need all hands on deck as they look for a strong finish to the season.
One set of those hands belong to forward Anthony Tolliver.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the 76ers will sign Tolliver to a new contract, keeping him with the team for the rest of the season. His second 10-day contract with Philly was set to expire this weekend.
Tolliver has played five games for Philadelphia, averaging 12.4 minutes a night. His best outing came against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week with 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block in 17 minutes of action.
In the last two weeks, he’s done enough to convince the team he’s worth keeping around. He’s brought solid defense and will provide depth for the frontcourt.
Anthony Tolliver is a veteran presence the 76ers can turn to if needed
Tolliver’s value comes as much from his leadership as his play on the court. Head coach Doc Rivers credited the 35-year-old for mentoring young players on the team, according to Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The Creighton product is the definition of a journeyman player. The 76ers are his 11th team in the NBA. He’s also suited up with the Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets (then Bobcats), Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies. He even spent some time in Germany near the start of his career.
If all goes well, Tolliver will be around to help the 76ers battle for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They’re entering the final 10 games of the season 1.5 games behind the Brooklyn Nets.
Tolliver won’t see a bunch of action unless injuries strike at an inopportune time. Still, every bit of help matters when you’re competing for NBA titles.