When KJ McDaniels signed with the Sixers, he made a bold decision on his rookie contract, agreeing to a one-year, non-guaranteed tender that could make him a restricted free agent next July. His situation is actually a little similar to Jeremy Maclin. Though Maclin had proven to be an asset before his injury, he gambled on himself with a one-year deal and is now due for a big contract.
Now at the All-Star break, we've McDaniels shine on defense and shown that he can contribute on the offensive side as well, whether it be a self alley-oop or a shot from beyond the arc.
KJ sat down with CSNPhilly's Marshall Harris and of course, the interview focused a lot on whether or not the rookie expects to return to the Sixers next season.
"I'm not sure, but I would like to, I love the city. I love the history behind the team. I like Coach Brown and the players on the team. It's been a good experience so far," McDaniels said.
Harris then pressed, "So you want to be a Sixer next year?" To which McDaniels leaves the door open a bit.
"I mean, I like being a Sixer. It's been fun just growing and playing."
Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports goes into depth at what the Sixers options are with the CBA and McDaniels moving forward. How the rest of the year plays out could be the difference between the a higher end deal in the four-year $42 million range for McDaniels or a more low-end deal around $17 million for three years.
McDaniels has been one of the more exciting players to watch on the Sixers team this year, so the possibility of him not being a part of it next year might be a little scary for fans who have become accustomed to his presence in the rebuild process. He fits Brett Brown's system well and has proven to be a contributor on both ends.
This season, KJ is averaging 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He ranks third in the rookie class with 1.31 blocks per game and also ranks in the top ten in steals, rebounds and field goal percentage.
