76ers add Rayan Rupert on two-way deal — French wing gets Philadelphia shot

Three two-way roster spots were open in Philadelphia, and Rayan Rupert is now set to take the first one. The 76ers have agreed to sign the 22-year-old French wing to a two-way contract, giving them a low-cost look at a long, defensive-minded player who flashed during a late-season run in Memphis. The move is not designed to shake the top of the rotation, but it tells a clear story about how Philadelphia is filling out the edges of a roster being reshaped around bigger names.

The Bottom Line

• The 76ers agreed to sign Rayan Rupert to a two-way contract, according to reporting cited by multiple outlets.
• Rupert was drafted 43rd overall in 2023 and has played for Portland and Memphis.
• He averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 16 games with the Grizzlies.
• Memphis did not extend a two-way qualifying offer, making Rupert an unrestricted free agent.
• Philadelphia still has two open two-way slots after adding Rupert.

Breaking It Down

Rupert’s path to Philadelphia starts with a stop-and-start beginning in Portland. The Trail Blazers selected him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, but he never carved out a major role there. Across 139 games in Portland, he averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game, numbers that show how limited his nightly opportunity was.

The season changed after Portland waived him and Memphis picked him up while dealing with a thinned-out rotation. With the Grizzlies, Rupert received the kind of minutes young players often need before anyone can make a fair evaluation. In 16 games, including eight starts, he averaged 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals while playing 30.9 minutes per night.

That Memphis run is the reason the deal makes sense for Philadelphia. Rupert is listed at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, with outlets noting a wingspan reported between 7-foot-2 and 7-foot-3. Those measurements matter because wings with that kind of reach can defend multiple spots, contest passing lanes and give coaches lineup flexibility, even if the offensive game is still developing.

There were limits in the Memphis sample. Hoops Rumors noted that Rupert averaged nearly four fouls per game with the Grizzlies, a sign that his defensive activity can come with mistakes. NBC Sports Philadelphia also reported he shot 33.8 percent from three on 4.1 attempts per game during that stretch, which gives Philadelphia a clear development target if he is going to push beyond spot minutes.

Why This Matters

Two-way contracts are not headline-grabbing moves in the same way star trades are, but they have become valuable roster tools. Every NBA team can carry up to three two-way players, and those slots let teams test young talent without using a full standard roster spot. For Philadelphia, Rupert is an upside swing: a former second-round pick with NBA experience, real size and one strong stretch that is worth investigating.

The timing also matters because the 76ers are in a busy offseason. Reports cited in the provided sources say Philadelphia has already made major moves around a new-look core, including the acquisition of Jaylen Brown from Boston in a deal involving Paul George and draft compensation. In that context, Rupert is not being added to carry the offense; he is being brought in to compete for depth minutes, protect against injuries and give the organization another developmental option.

For fans in Philadelphia, the move is another reminder that roster construction happens in layers. The top of the roster gets the attention, but playoff teams often need inexpensive players who can survive real minutes when injuries, foul trouble or matchup needs appear. The Sixers have had recent two-way success with Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, both of whom earned conversions to standard NBA contracts after playing significant minutes last season.

What Comes Next

Rupert’s deal is expected to be for one year because he has only one season of two-way eligibility remaining. His immediate task is simple: show that the Memphis production was not just a product of late-season opportunity and that his size can translate into dependable defense inside Philadelphia’s system.

The Sixers still have two open two-way slots, so more depth moves can follow before training camp. Rupert will likely enter camp fighting for a development role rather than a regular rotation job, but his Memphis stretch gives him enough of a case to make the competition interesting.