Tiago Splitter
Position: Center
Status for 2017-18: Unrestricted free agent
Splitter in 2016-17
The first Brazilian-born player to ever win an NBA championship, Splitter was traded for the second time during his four-year contract that he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. He essentially has been tossed around between deciples of Greg Popovich, going from the Spurs to the Atlanta Hawks and then to the Sixers at the deadline this year.
He came over along with a second-round pick in the Sixers' trade of Ersan Ilyasova. Splitter was more sweetener than substance in the deal as he was rehabbing an injury. He hadn't played in a game since Jan. 2016 and was still recovering from his right calf injury. There was doubt that he would even play for the Sixers.
However, he did end up making a small impact for the Sixers. He was assigned to the 87ers for six days, then was recalled for the end of the season and ended up playing in eight games. In his first game, he came out sporting a large mustache that played bigger than Splitter's 6-foot-11 frame. It was impressive. Only able to play primarily in four-minute bursts, the Brazilian center still found a way to average 9.5 minutes and 4.9 points per game along with 2.8 rebounds.
Splitter was a much-needed extra body with the Sixers limping to the finish line and he found a way to score in every game he played, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and even making the first two three-pointers of his career.
NBA
Signature game
Splitter was able to play more than 10 minutes in just two games and about 30 percent of his total minutes came in the Sixers' season finale. He was somewhat like the Splitter of old, going 5 of 12 from the field, reeling in five rebounds and finishing with a season-high 12 points. It was his only game in double figures and his highest rebound total during his short Sixers stint.
Looking ahead to 2017-18
Splitter is a free agent, so there's a chance he doesn't come back to Philly. President of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said as much. He said the team wanted to get Splitter healthy to allow him an opportunity to approach the free agent market.
However, despite him being a center on a team that features Joel Embiid, he could actually have a role if he came back. Embiid is injury prone, Jahlil Okafor is likely to be traded and therefore there will be minutes for a third center, particularly a veteran presence, behind Embiid and Richaun Holmes. It doesn't hurt that the Sixers have plenty of room under the salary cap and floor.
The other potential benefit to bringing Splitter back is his familiarity with the system. He is, after all, a former Spur and played back when Brett Brown was a Spurs assistant. But don't expect Splitter to be back with the Sixers, even if there could be a few spare minutes for him.
On Splitter
"He's just a blue-collar workhorse that is an elite screener, an elite roller. I know in my Spurs days with him, he was as good as we had coached on the assist from the roll."
- Sixers head coach Brett Brown