Philadelphia 76ers: Khalif Wyatt Makes Strong Case for Roster Spot

The city of Philadelphia knows what Khalif Wyatt is all about. For four years, he brought excitement, intensity and passion each and every time he stepped on the court for Temple. Now, it’s safe to say the Philadelphia 76ers know what Wyatt is all about.

While the Sixers had a rough go in the Orlando Summer League, going a dismal 1-4, the biggest takeaway from their week in Florida was the potential surrounding the former Owl.

While all eyes were on their first-round pick, Michael Carter-Williams, Wyatt made his presence felt, specifically in the ganes against the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. As MCW did his thing, leading the entire league with 7.3 assists and adding 14.3 points per game, Wyatt showcased his ability to hit the open shot and attack the basket.

At Temple, Wyatt made a living beating his man and getting to the rim. He also never saw a shot he didn’t like. Of course, that mindset can deter some NBA teams, but in Philadelphia’s case, having someone who can get hot in a hurry is hard to pass by.

He demonstrated his shooting touch in games two and five of the OPSL. Wyatt finished with a game-high 25 points while shooting 11-for-18 from the field and 2-for-4 from behind the arc against Indiana and wrapped up the week with 27 points on 6-of-9 shooting against the Nets. Additionally, he went an impressive 12-for-14 from the foul line in the final game.

Despite leading the 76ers with 13.8 ppg, it may be his willingness to run the offense and distribute the ball that ultimately determines his place with Philadelphia. Every scout and coach knows Wyatt, who averaged slightly more than 20 ppg in his senior season at Temple, can put the ball in the bucket.

Seeing him make smart passes this week, though, makes him even harder to pass up.

He registered 16 assists – second to Carter-Willams – over the five games, including four in their lone win. In that game, he was the one who Michael Curry decided to put the ball in the hands of on the last possession, not their first-round pick point guard. Wyatt went on to hit two clutch free throws to seal the win. In college, Wyatt was the one who brought the ball up and he was the player the offense revolved around.

While he certainly won’t be getting more touches than Evan Turner or Thaddeus Young, or even Carter-Williams, he very well could take on the role Lou Williams once had in Philadelphia.

Fans had a love-hate relationship with Williams. He was exciting to watch as he could heat up at any moment and drop 10 points in a flash. Yet, there were times he forced the shot or dribbled out of control that led to fans pulling their hair out and calling for his removal.

That is exactly what Wyatt could bring to Philadelphia.

And for a team who already has its eyes on 2014 and is simply looking for the cheapest options to round out their roster, having a player who has already captivated many basketball fans in Philadelphia  might not be a bad idea, especially when he could prove to be a hot hand off the bench for many years.