NBA Rumors: Kai Jones to Work Out for 76ers After Being Waived by Hornets

The Philadelphia 76ers have an open roster spot, and they are reportedly looking at a 2021 first-round pick to potentially fill it.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Friday that Philadelphia will meet with forward Kai Jones "in the coming days." The Charlotte Hornets released Jones in October before he even appeared in a game this season.

Charlotte's decision to release Jones came after he took to social media in a since-deleted post and said he officially requested a trade.

"The Hornets announced last week the 6-foot-11 forward/center would not join the team for training camp following some bizarre behavior on social media, including a mostly indecipherable video on Instagram Live and other criticism of teammates on X," ESPN noted at the time.

Jones was the No. 19 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft but has appeared in just 67 games as a secondary contributor who has never started.

He averaged 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 blocks while shooting 56.7 percent from the field in those contests for the Hornets.

Philadelphia could use the frontcourt depth with Joel Embiid sidelined by a knee injury that still doesn't have an exact timetable for return. Jones isn't the type of potential addition who can alter the course of the season, but he would at least help the team tread water until the reigning MVP is set to return.

The 76ers are 6-14 in their last 20 games and have fallen to the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.