Portland Trail Blazers fans were stunned when the Philadelphia 76ers were able to land forward Jabari Walker on a two-way contract this offseason. That's incredible value for Philadelphia, as Walker is one of the best two-way players in the league. The 76ers know what a hidden gem they have on their hands, judging by the fact that Walker has already started in three games this season.
This season, he's averaging 14.0 minutes, 3.7 points, and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7% from the field. While those aren't jaw-dropping numbers, Walker has always been the type of valuable role player who doesn't need to score in order to be impactful.
The 76ers are already recognizing Jabari Walker's true value
Walker has already showcased his versatility in Philadelphia by playing multiple positions. He's listed as Philadelphia's third-stringer at both forward positions, but has even spent time at the center position despite his 6-foot-7 frame. That's cheap insurance for the injury-prone Joel Embiid, who has exceeded 60 games played in just four seasons throughout his career and doesn't plan to play in back-to-back games.
Largely thanks to Walker, NBA Two-Way Talents has the 76ers' two-way players ranked as the second-best in the association behind only the New York Knicks. Meanwhile, the Blazers have the second-worst ranking, ahead of only the Dallas Mavericks.
Not only does Portland have shaky two-way contracts, but the lack of depth on their 15-man roster is also being exposed early on in the season due to unfortunate injuries. Four players -- Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Blake Wesley, and Matisse Thybulle -- have already been ruled out for their upcoming contest against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ideally, Portland would have kept Walker around as an underrated and reliable depth piece. At 23 years old, he fit perfectly with their rebuilding timeline. He also would've given Portland yet another versatile defender to help bolster the identity they've established.
It wasn't surprising that they ultimately didn't extend a qualifying offer to him this summer, as they had to clear spots for Lillard and Wesley, the latter of whom has justified having the final roster spot. But it was shocking that Walker didn't find his way onto a 15-man roster as he's certainly talented enough.
In this case, it could be for the best for Walker in the long run. Finding the right landing spot is crucial for these types of players, and Philadelphia already knows Walker's true value, which goes far beyond this two-way contract.