The Philadelphia 76ers have made a pair of roster moves that could shape their postseason ambitions, signing forward Jabari Walker to a two-year standard contract and bringing back veteran guard Cameron Payne for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season. These moves, confirmed on Monday, February 16, 2026, punctuate a flurry of activity for a team seeking depth and stability as the league calendar barrels toward the playoffs.
Walker’s journey to this new deal has been anything but straightforward. After signing a two-way contract with the Sixers in July 2025, following three seasons and 188 games with the Portland Trail Blazers, the 23-year-old forward quickly carved out a role for himself in head coach Nick Nurse’s rotation. His hustle, defensive versatility, and knack for rebounding became clear assets, particularly as the Sixers navigated a season rife with injuries and shifting lineups.
Remarkably, Walker was the only member of the 2025-26 Sixers to be active for each of the team’s first 50 games. However, NBA rules limiting two-way players to 50 active games forced Walker to sit out the last four contests before the All-Star break, just as he was hitting his stride. The Sixers used the break to hammer out a deal, rewarding Walker’s persistence and reliability with a standard contract that now makes him eligible for postseason play.
"The plan that I had for myself, I didn’t see two-way at all. I didn’t think that would be a position I was in," Walker said at his introductory media availability, reflecting on his unexpected path. "But you know the market and just feedback, it doesn’t lie. So whether that’s things I need to be doing better or whether it’s just situation, it all led to me being here and I’m just grateful for this moment because a lot of people don’t even have this. I’m friends with old teammates that aren’t even in the league anymore and I’m talking to them and they’re like, ‘Man, take advantage of what you have in front of you.’ So yes, the goal is to [get] the [standard] contract, but just me being here and being part of a team that wants to win and playing with all these amazing guys, I think I’m just grateful to be here."
The Sixers, for their part, kept their word. Head coach Nick Nurse has repeatedly praised Walker’s tenacity and ability to stay ready, even when his minutes have fluctuated. "We love his effort on the boards and his defense," Nurse said in recent weeks, making it clear that Walker’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed.
Statistically, Walker has averaged 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 12.1 minutes per game over 45 appearances this season. While his shooting has been a struggle—he’s hitting just 40.3% from the field and a chilly 27.0% from three-point range—his rebounding has been top-tier. According to Cleaning the Glass, Walker ranks in the 100th percentile among forwards in offensive rebounding and in the 76th percentile for defensive boards. That’s no small feat for a player fighting for every minute in a crowded frontcourt.
Walker’s new contract was made possible after the Sixers traded Jared McCain for draft capital and sent Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies. These moves opened up much-needed roster and salary cap space, allowing the conversion of both Walker and fellow two-way standout Dominick Barlow to standard deals. Barlow, who signed his standard contract on February 5, 2026, has emerged as a starter, while Walker is expected to compete with Justin Edwards and Trendon Watford for frontcourt minutes off the bench.
With Walker’s signing, the Sixers’ 15-man roster is now full, effectively taking them out of the running for any last-minute buyout market additions. This decision comes with some risk—especially as rival teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have made notable upgrades—but team president Daryl Morey expressed confidence in the current group, telling reporters he didn’t view any rival moves as “needle-movers.”
Meanwhile, the addition of Cameron Payne brings a steady hand to the Sixers’ backcourt. Payne, 31, returns to Philadelphia after a whirlwind couple of seasons that saw him play for the New York Knicks, briefly join the Indiana Pacers, and then head overseas to Serbia with Partizan Belgrade. Payne reportedly agreed to a buyout to return to the NBA, and the Sixers wasted no time snapping him up.
Payne is no stranger to the Sixers. He arrived at the 2024 trade deadline in a deal that sent Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks, and he quickly established himself as a sparkplug off the bench. For his career, Payne has averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, providing shooting and the ability to competently run an NBA offense—skills the Sixers sorely need given Tyrese Maxey’s league-leading minutes and the heavy workload shouldered by rookie VJ Edgecombe.
The financial maneuvering behind these deals has been intricate. Prior to the signings, the Sixers were less than $1.6 million below the $187.9 million luxury-tax line. By delaying the official signing of Payne and Walker until Thursday, February 20, the team stands to save nearly $80,000 in salary cap space, keeping them comfortably below the tax threshold. Both players are expected to sign veteran-minimum contracts, which, if inked on Thursday, would leave the Sixers nearly $180,000 below the tax line.
While Walker’s role may be somewhat limited—he’s more one-dimensional compared to Barlow or Watford, and was already losing rotation minutes before the All-Star break—a suspension to Paul George could open up additional opportunities. The coaching staff remains optimistic that Walker’s energy and rebounding can make a difference, especially in matchups that demand physicality.
Elsewhere on the roster, the Sixers have filled two other open slots with Dalen Terry and are planning to sign Tyrese Martin, who appeared in 37 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season, averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.8 minutes. The hope is that Martin, like Barlow and Walker, can provide unexpected value in the stretch run.
As the dust settles on these moves, the Sixers find themselves with a roster that blends youth, experience, and a bit of underdog grit. The focus now shifts to integrating these new pieces and maintaining momentum as the postseason approaches. With Walker and Payne officially in the fold, the Sixers have signaled their intent to compete—now it’s up to the players to seize the opportunity.
With the roster set and the playoff race heating up, all eyes will be on Philadelphia to see if these strategic additions can help the Sixers make a deep run this spring. The action resumes soon, and the city’s basketball faithful are ready for the next chapter.