Sixers reportedly working on former Houston Rockets first-rounder

As free agency draws closer, the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for a busy summer.

Recently, the team reportedly selected a former first-round pick of the Houston Rockets to take a closer look at a forward who played overseas.

According to NBC Sports Philadelphia John Clark, the Sixers held a free agent workout for veteran forward Sam Dekker. The former Wisconsin star landed in the NBA in the 2015 draft, becoming the 18th overall pick by the Houston Rockets.

At the time, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was running the front office in Houston. Dekker joined the Rockets and split his time between Houston’s main team and its NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

During his rookie season with the Rockets, Dekker only played in three games. The following year, Dekker appeared in a career-high 77 games with the Rockets, averaging 18 minutes on the floor. During that span, Dekker produced seven points per game while shooting 32 percent from deep.

During the 2017 offseason, Dekker was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers alongside two former Sixers, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams. Dekker was part of the Rockets’ blockbuster trade for Chris Paul.

In Los Angeles, Dekker averaged 12 minutes per game in 73 outings. He produced four points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field.

Since his time in Houston and Los Angeles, Dekker has bounced back a bit. He played with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors. His only game with the Raptors in 2021-22 was Dekker’s last time playing in the NBA. Since then, he has played for clubs based in Türkiye and Great Britain.

It appears Dekker is looking to return to the NBA, and the Sixers could be a team that gives him a chance. As Philly looks to chase stars this offseason, Dekker could be a minimal option for depth purposes.