PHILADELPHIA -- Perhaps the biggest winner of the Sixers' trade deadline deal that sent Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Justin Anderson and a second-round draft pick was former NBA D-leaguer Richaun Holmes.
Holmes showed plenty of promise throughout the course of this season, even prior to the Feb. 26 trade, and is averaging 8.9 points and 5.1 assists while playing his way into the Sixers' future that includes big-men Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric already entrenched as key contributors.
No effort on the offensive end of the court has been more impressive from Holmes this season than Wednesday night's career-high 25-point, eight rebound performance in a physical and increasingly chippy affair against Dwight Howard and Co.