The Clippers traded for Sixers forward Johni Broome today to help round out their roster, sending cash considerations to the Sixers and receiving a second round pick for their troubles to help the Sixers clear a roster spot to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Broome was the 35th pick in last year’s (stacked) draft, meaning the Sixers are bailing quite early on him as a prospect. A 6’9, 244 pound power forward, Broome won the National Player of the Year Award in his senior season at Auburn in 2025, leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists and helping them claim a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, extremely, extremely poor measurables (one of the lowest verticals in NBA combine history) sunk Broome’s draft stock, and a lot of draft analysts viewed him as more of a two-way flier than an early second-rounder worthy of a real contract.
Broome only appeared in 11 regular season games for the Sixers, all in garbage time, and shot an insanely bad 4-24 from the field in those minutes. Broome was a lot more productive in his 26 games in the G-League, scoring over 21 points per game and collecting over 8 rebounds a night as well. However, Broome was not particularly efficient, as he didn’t shoot well from three or the free throw line, nor did he get to the line a ton. Quite frankly, the numbers seem a bit empty calories, though it’s always tough to really judge G-League play.
Every Sixers fan I know was rooting to get off Broome’s contract (guaranteed for just over $2.1M this year, non-guaranteed next season, team option in 2028-2029) as their best option to clear a roster spot. Despite his college productivity, his lack of shooting or defense as a power forward makes it tough for him to be a role player, and it feels unlikely that he can create against NBA-level athletes like he did in college. In short, while Broome does fill a spot on the depth chart the Clippers needed at power forward, I see no real indications to believe in him as an NBA player.
The true benefit of this trade is adding another second-round pick to the Clippers’ slowly growing warchest of future assets. The pick will be the second most favorable of three picks the Sixers control, making it a solid bet to be somewhere in the 30s or low 40s next year. Whether the Clippers keep the pick or move it, to me, that asset is much more valuable than Broome.
The Clippers were able to trade for Broome using the trade exception they got for dumping Chris Paul last deadline, meaning it has no financial impact on anything else they can do the rest of the offseason outside of tax purposes. The Clippers are still well below the luxury tax margin, so keeping Bennedict Mathurin, signing and trading him for another player, or trading for Peyton Watson (or someone else) are all still feasible options.
Technically, Broome is the 15th player on the Clippers roster, if you assume the Kawhi trade will go through (I still do). However, that counts Cam Christie, who is on a non-guaranteed deal and can be waived at any time. Thus, even though they have a “full” roster right now, I would still expect one more move, either relating to Mathurin, Watson, or possibly Jonathan Kuminga. We will just have to wait and see.
