Following his standout performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Tournament, Guerschon Yabusele is on the verge of making a return to the NBA. Yabusele will be joining Joel Embiid on the front line in Philadelphia, per multiple reports. The 28-year-old French forward has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the 76ers for $2.1 million.
“I want to go back to the NBA, but I play for the best team in Europe and I win titles,” Yabusele said after the games concluded. Why leave this to wax a bench there?
Yabusele was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He played for the Celtics from 2017 to 2019 but struggled to find consistent playing time, averaging just 6.6 minutes per game over two seasons. After being waived by the Celtics in 2019, Yabusele took his career overseas.
Initially, he played for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) during the 2019-2020 season but he then returned to France and played for Tony Parker’s ASVEL Basket in the LNB Pro A, where he won the French Cup in 2021.
Later that same year, Yabusele joined Real Madrid, where he enjoyed significant success, winning multiple titles, including the EuroLeague championship in 2023 and two Liga ACB championships.
On the international hoops stage, Yabusele has been a vital player for the French national team, making substantial contributions in major tournaments. He played a key role in helping France secure silver medals at both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
I reported earlier in the week that his agents at CAA were getting phone calls from NBA teams inquiring about him, but that his buyout clause at Real Madrid might prove to be too expensive. In the NBA, teams are restricted by how much they can contribute to a player’s buyout from a foreign team. Teams can pay up to $850,000 towards a player’s buyout without it affecting the salary cap. Any amount beyond this limit must be covered by the player themselves.
Wemby’s teammate Guerschon Yabusele, who won over fans at the Olympics was drafted & played for the Celtics from 2017 to 2019 in a total of 74 games. His agents at CAA have reportedly gotten calls from several teams but his buy-out may be too pricey. #Magic #Cavs #Spurs #Sixers pic.twitter.com/hT9q3fMapX
— SpursRΞPORT (@SpursReporter) August 12, 2024
Therefore, if Guerschon Yabusele’s buyout from Real Madrid genuinely exceeds $850,000 as reported, 76ers can only contribute up to that amount, and Yabusele would need to pay the remainder.
With the Sixers, he joins his Olympics foe Joel Embiid on the front line and will be reinforced by the presence of Paul George but if it doesn’t happen to work out, he can always make another move in the offseason.
Yabusele appears to be an excellent fit in Philadelphia for several reasons. He brings versatility, being able to play both inside and outside, which adds valuable flexibility to the frontcourt. His shooting ability is surprisingly impressive, as he shot 39.4% from three-point range last season with Real Madrid. Known for his defensive energy and physicality, Yabusele can bolster the team’s frontcourt defense and really help Embiid- especially if Philly’s big man ever goes down with another injury.
His strong performances at Paris 2024 demonstrate his ability to compete at a high level against NBA talent, which will be valuable as he transitions back to the league. Additionally, he addresses the need for frontcourt depth, contributing both offensively and defensively, making him a valuable addition to the team’s rotation.
The Sixers have yet to make an official announcement, but one thing is certain, this was a bold and ambitious signing by Philadelphia’s front office- which continues to show that they are serious about winning and making noise in the Eastern Conference.