Sixers Cut Saint Thomas and Duke Miles Hours Before Celtics…

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Friday, October 16

Philadelphia released Saint Thomas and Duke Miles on October 16, per Hoops Rumors, clearing two roster spots four days before games start counting. The Sixers close the preseason tonight against the same Celtics team that beat them 144-106 last week, this time with Boston on one day of rest instead of five.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Why cut Saint Thomas and Duke Miles today, of all days?

No reason was given beyond the transaction logs: Saint Thomas, who was making $1.4 million this season, and Duke Miles both left the roster the same day, confirmed only by a Hoops Rumors note tagging it a minor move. Neither had shown up in any of the preseason scoring lines so far, so the open question is just timing: why today, with the Celtics back in town hours later.

Does the rematch with Boston mean anything after a 38-point beatdown?

Context, some. Philadelphia lost that one 106-144 on October 10, the worst night of training camp. Tonight it gets Boston again, but this time the schedule tilts the other way: the Celtics arrive on one day of rest after two games in the last week, while the Sixers have had five days off since their last outing. A 38-point margin doesn't reverse on rest alone, but it's the first real variable working in Philadelphia's favor against this particular opponent.

Are Embiid, Brown, James and Caldwell-Pope finally playing tonight?

That's the listed return date for six of them: Dominick Barlow, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tacko Fall, LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were all tagged Day-To-Day with today as the estimate, most of it labeled simply rest. Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona are pointed at October 20 instead, the first game that counts at the Knicks. Whether six return dates all land on the same night the way the chart says is the actual test.

What does releasing two depth guys do to a $213.2 million roster?

Not much, financially - Saint Thomas and Duke Miles were movement at the bottom of the roster, not against a $213.2 million payroll that sits above the first apron and the $200.4 million tax line regardless. Embiid ($58.1M), Brown ($57.1M) and Maxey ($40.8M) account for most of that number by themselves. Trimming two non-rotation names clears roster spots, not cap space.

The verdictThe two releases are housekeeping against a $213.2 million apron case that was never in question. The real test tonight is whether six day-to-day tags actually clear and whether Philadelphia can erase a 38-point memory before the record that counts starts October 20 at the Knicks.

Who did the 76ers release on October 16?

Saint Thomas, who was making $1.4 million this season, and Duke Miles both left the roster the same day, reported by Hoops Rumors as a minor transaction.

Are Joel Embiid and LeBron James playing in the preseason finale against the Celtics?

Both were listed Day-To-Day for rest with an estimated return date of October 16, the night of the game, along with Jaylen Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall.