Tiago Splitter is reportedly intending to join the Atlanta Hawks for the team's upcoming training camp as he continues to recover from hip surgery. However, rumors have emerged that the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in the veteran big man as they want to add more experience in their young frontline.
The 31-year-old Brazilian underwent a season-ending surgery last February to repair an injured hip and has not returned to the court until now. NBC Sports indicated that the said injury have "kept him from playing for Brazil" in the ongoing Rio Summer Olympics, which resulted in the host nation being eliminated from quarterfinals contention.
Splitter, a one-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, recently announced that he will be ready in time for the Hawks training camp and that he is eager to play in Atlanta next season.
The former Spanish League MVP had not been effective last season because of his nagging injury, but was able to play in 36 games for the Hawks and averaged 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists before he was sidelined for the rest of the season.
The report noted, though, that Splitter's play could be "more redundant" now with newly-acquired Hawks starting center Dwight Howard and so Atlanta may be considering to trade him for someone who is more complimentary to the eight-time NBA All-Star.
Splitter had a hard time jelling with Al Horford last season, but with the bigger and stronger Howard, it seems that he is set to become more of a surplus in head coach Mike Budenholzer's rotation.
With that, recent rumors are out that the Sixers could make a play for the 6-foot-11, 245-pound Brazilian before the new season begins in October.
Fansided reported that Philly is looking to add an experienced big man to guide their horde of young frontcourt players composed of Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and this year's no.1 overall pick Ben Simmons.
It is not immediately known whether the Sixers will give up any one of the aforementioned big men to try to acquire Splitter, but there had been rumors since the beginning of summer that either Noel or Okafor will be used as a trade piece.
