Nick Nurse Adds Former Raptors Favorite to 76ers Roster
Nick Nurse is bringing all his pals to Philadelphia.
After signing Kyle Lowry last month, the Philadelphia 76ers have now added another former Toronto Raptors guard to their organization, reportedly inking Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way deal, Shams Charania reported Saturday.
Dowtin was a favorite of Nurse’s last season in Toronto. The 26-year-old appeared in 25 games for the Raptors, providing stable play at both ends of the court. His season was infamously cut short by organization who opted not to promote Dowtin to a standard contract when he reached the maximum number games available on a two-way deal. Toronto opted to keep Thad Young, Will Barton, and Joe Wieskamp over Dowtin who was ineligible to play in Toronto’s lone play-in game.
The Raptors released Dowtin over in October and he signed with the 76ers to join Philadelphia’s G League team a month later. In 17 games this year, Dowtin is averaging 17.1 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range for the Delaware Blue Coats.
Dowtin is now back in a familiar situation on a two-way deal, making him ineligible for post-season play. He’ll have the month and a half of the season to prove himself again to Nurse and the 76ers’ front office before they’ll need to decide on Dowtin’s availability for the playoffs.
The Raptors could have signed Dowtin out of the G League at any point this season should the organization have opted to go in that direction.
