Former 76ers Draft Pick Set to Leave Sacramento Kings After Trade

Filip Petrusev’s stint in the NBA will conclude much earlier than expected. The former Philadelphia 76ers second-round pick is set to sign a contract overseas, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

This season, Petrusev joined the Sixers after spending the previous two seasons as a Euro stash. The Serbian center initially joined the Sixers’ organization in 2021, becoming the team’s 50th overall pick out of Gonzaga.

Although Petrusev wanted to land in the NBA right away, the Sixers felt it would be best if he spent some time gaining more experience in other leagues. Following stints in Turkey and Serbia, Petrusev came to the States to finally join the Sixers for the 2023-2024 NBA season.

The young center was available throughout the preseason for the Sixers and made the opening night roster. However, following the Sixers’ third game, Petrusev was involved in the blockbuster deal, which moved James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Serbian center was tossed into the deal with Harden and PJ Tucker. While those two players stayed on board in LA, Petrusev was quickly re-routed to the Sacramento Kings. The former Sixers’ draft pick hoped to quickly carve out a role for himself in Sacramento, but it appears that won’t be the case. As a result, they’ll go their separate ways.

Upon his arrival with the Kings, Petrusev was assigned to their G League affiliate in Stockton. He appeared in one game, spending nine minutes on the court. With the Kings, Petrusev made two regular-season appearances. He averaged three minutes on the court across those two matchups, totaling just three points.

It’s unclear where Petrusev is headed next, but it could take some time before he makes his way back to the NBA if playing in the U.S. is still in the cards later on down the line.