76ers decline team option on veteran forward following rough season

The Philadelphia 76ers have quite a task on their hands in the offseason, as they'll look to bring in some core pieces to build around their young core of VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey, with Joel Embiid and Paul George still remaining as the more veteran figures on the team. But it appears that the Sixers are going to be losing out on quite a helpful veteran figure in the coming weeks: Trendon Watford.

Watford's headed for free agency

The Philadelphia 76ers have declined the team option on forward Trendan Watford, league sources tell The Athletic. Watford now becomes an unrestricted free agent

As reported by The Athletic's Tony Jones, Philadelphia isn't going to pick up its team option for Watford's contract, which would see him return for the second and final year of the initial deal, having arrived in the City of Brotherly Love during the last offseason, coming off of a stint with the Brooklyn Nets.

Watford's first year with Philadelphia was less than optimal, given his bouts with injury issues in the early stages of the campaign, having missed all of preseason and some of the opening matches due to a right hamstring strain, something that had hampered him in his ability to stay on the court during his last season at the Barclays Center, with that mainly being with an issue in his left hamstring.

But when the 25-year-old did make his way back onto the court, he struggled to find his footing, recording an average of 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game across his 53 appearances last season. This wouldn't have seemed how things were destined to be after Watford recorded his first triple-double early in the season, dropping 20 points, 17 rebounds, and ten assists against the Toronto Raptors in early November.

Given these lackluster numbers, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that Philadelphia made the decision that they did, but all eyes will now shift to see how they fill the role left by Watford in free agency, which is set to open up on Tuesday. It'll also allow the Sixers to splash a bit more cash, given that the 25-year-old's team option was worth $2.8 million.

As for Watford, it will allow him to have a go in free agency and take his talents elsewhere for the upcoming season.

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