Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers are keeping draft pick Arsalan Kazemi overseas no matter how much they could immediately use his help. Kazemi’s name hasn’t been mentioned at the start of training camp.
The Sixers have a roster of 20 players with most of the power forwards and centers being injured, so bringing in Kazemi seems like a logical approach. However, the salary cap combined with next summer’s draft and a crop of marquee free agents gives the Sixers a reason to keep Kazemi off this season’s roster.
As mentioned in a previous article, Kazemi will play pro ball in his homeland Iran. He and the Sixers will benefit developing his game where he will have an important role. The worst-case scenario is he never sees time in the NBA.
Sixers management probably felt Kazemi needed to work on his game after an average showing in this year’s summer league. The roster has been updated today and Kazemi’s name is left off it.
The Sixers could still use his help considering their limited options at this point. He could provide a spark off the bench with added rebounding and outside shooting, but they probably feel it’s best to have him develop his game.
He will also be spending significant playing time with 2013 Asian Champion Iran against the world’s top basketball competition at next year’s FIBA World Cup if he decides to join.
His national team teammate and former Memphis Grizzlies center, Hamed Haddadi, is currently a free agent who could provide the Sixers with size at a low cost; however, he may not bolt his current team Sichuan Blue Whales who is expected to move up to the China Basketball Association and is paying him $1.3 million for a similar contract just to sit on the Sixers bench.
Alan Gung is a Philadelphia 76ers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlanGung, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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