76ers’ Draft Pick Hopes for NBA Opportunity Next Season

76ers' stash Filip Petrusev is ready for his shot.

What does the future hold for Filip Petrusev? Right now, it’s unclear whether or not the Philadelphia 76ers have any immediate plans to utilize him.

When the Sixers snagged the Serbian center with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, the young big man was coming off a two-year run at Gonzaga.

Petrusev hoped that he could land a spot on the Sixers’ roster in year one, but the team had other plans. The Sixers double-dipped on centers during the 2021 draft, also selecting Charles Bassey out of Western Kentucky. 

With plans to keep Bassey on board for his rookie effort, Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey mentioned that Petrusev would be a stash overseas. He spent the 2021-2022 season playing for Anadolu Efes, appearing in 22 games and picking up four starts.

Spending an average of nine minutes on the court, Petrusev averaged five points while knocking down 60 percent of his field goals and came down with two rebounds per game.

After a second run in the Summer League with the Sixers last year, Petrusev signed on to play with his home squad KK Craven Zveda. Throughout the 2022-2023 season, Petrusev appeared in 34 games, averaging 22 minutes on the court. He put up 11 points per game while drilling 35 percent of his shots from the field.

Petrusev is coming up on three years since getting drafted by the 76ers. He has yet to join the team beyond the Summer League. 

Will Petrusev finally make his way to Camden for training camp this season? His agent, Misko Raznatovic, seems confident that Petrusev will be in the NBA one way or another, according to a report from BasketNews. However, a return to KK Craven Zveda has not been ruled out.

“If he doesn’t sign in the NBA until August, then I’ll listen to Crvena Zvezda first because he really likes the environment there. In fact, I will not consider European options. I think that Filip will be in the NBA next season. If not, then, of course, he will be in Crvena Zvezda,” Raznatovic shared. “Of course, many may not like this, but this is the reality.”

The Sixers have some question marks at the backup center position heading into next season. Throughout 2022-2023, the Sixers employed Paul Reed, Montrezl Harrell, and Dewayne Dedmon behind Joel Embiid.

This summer, Reed is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career. While the Sixers will be able to match any offers thrown his way, the young center’s future in Philadelphia is unclear at this time. Then, there’s Montrezl Harrell, who has a player option attached to his contract. Similar to Reed, Harrell’s future is unclear at this time.

As for Dedmon, his short stint with the Sixers has likely concluded as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Depending on what happens with Harrell and Reed, there could be an opportunity for Petrusev to compete for a role next season, but he’ll have to shine in Las Vegas to make it happen.

With a new head coach in town, Petrusev will get a fresh look from the new staff when it’s fully built. But opportunities still won’t be easy for a stash in Philadelphia. With the Sixers continuing to have a championship-or-bust mentality, they are focused on experienced players who can help them boost their title odds.