You learn new things everyday.
The Philadelphia 76ers traded for Royce White in early July, and many figured new Sixers GM Sam Hinkie made the deal on the assumption that he might be able to get some production out of the embattled White.
The 76ers sent future consideration to the Houston Rockets in order to acquire the 2012 White and Turkish prospect Furkan Aldemir.
Now according to reports, Aldemir and not White was the player Hinkie coveted.
According to the County Courier Times, the 76ers may not want Royce White around at all.
As for the embattled White, Hinkie answered a question about White’s possible role on the team generically and never mentioned White by name.
An NBA source said the Rockets, who dealt him to the Sixers on July 6 along with a second-round pick and Turkish power forward Furkan Aldemir for future considerations and cash, are picking up the $1.7 million salary of White, who has an anxiety disorder and is afraid to fly. That means the Sixers have nothing invested in White — and that the 21-year-old Aldemir was the primary target in the deal, which the source confirmed.
White has no leverage in this situation, and it might come to an end before it even gets started. Royce White made it clear after being dealt that he still had no intentions of flying.
So if White shows up out of shape, screaming about not flying 100 times per season, you can expect White to be waived.