MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - JANUARY 19: Alex Poythress #22 of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants dribbles the ball during the game against the Windy City Bulls as part of 2017 NBA D-League Showcase at the Hershey Centre on January 19, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)Ron Turenne/Getty Images

Alex Poythress Signs Contract with 76ers Using Hardship Roster Exception

Tyler ConwayApr 2, 2017

The Philadelphia 76ers signed former Kentucky forward Alex Poythress on Sunday after the NBA approved a hardship roster exception.

Tom Moore of Calkins Media passed along the team's press release. The Sixers roster now has 16 players, one above the league-mandated maximum of 15. The NBA approved Poythress' signing because of Philadelphia's rash of injuries across the roster.

Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Robert Covington are all out for the season with injuries. Point guard Sergio Rodriguez has also missed the team's last three games.

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Poythress played two preseason games for the Indiana Pacers in October before being released. He's played the 2016-17 season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League, averaging 18.6 points and 7.0 rebounds on his way to an All-Star selection.

A four-year player at Kentucky, Poythress went undrafted last June. He was a former McDonald's All-American and 5-star recruit, per Scout.com. He was considered a potential first-round pick before tearing his ACL as a sophomore.

With Justin Anderson stepping into the starting lineup, Poythress could be thrown into the fire immediately. The Sixers play the Toronto Raptors on Sunday before a home game against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.