The Sixers made a minor deal at the trade deadline, absorbing the contract of Joel Anthony and receiving a second-round pick from Houston in a three-team trade. In order to make room for Anthony on the roster, the Sixers had to waive someone, which ended up being JaKarr Sampson. The three-team trade is still in the process of being finalized.
Not known for his style or offensive prowess, Sampson was most used on the team for his ability to get to the line and his efforts on the defensive end of the ball, guarding some of the best perimeter players in the league in his time with Philadelphia. Sampson looks to have impressed another team, as he is reportedly close to signing a two-year contract with the Nuggets.
Philadelphia free agent JaKarr Sampson is finalizing a two-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 22, 2016
The Sixers, especially Brett Brown, had hoped the team could resign Sampson although there was no telling what would happen once he hit the waiver wire.
Brett Brown said he would like JaKarr Sampson back on the Sixers, but thinks he could get picked up by another team. "I miss JaKarr."
— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoCSN) February 19, 2016
After being waived last week, Sampson spoke with Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer and had nothing but nice things to say about the Sixers organization upon his departure.
“I don’t have anything negative to say about Philly,” Sampson said Friday. “I feel like a lot of people in my situation might have something negative to say about Philly, like a ‘why-me’ type of thing. But I don’t have anything negative to say about the organization. I love those guys.”
In 121 career games, Sampson averaged 5.2 points and 2.4 rebounds. In 47 games this season, JaKarr averaged 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 17.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Brandon Apter, Managing Editor for Sixerdelphia.com
