Due to health and safety protocols once again taking a heavy toll on teams, the NBA has put new rules in place to help keep rosters afloat. Opposed to playing shorthanded, they can now sign additional players to 10-day contracts via the hardship exemption. This includes teams like the Sixers.

Front offices across the league have gone down multiple avenues with these deals. Some signed promising talent from the G-League, while others made calls to recently retired players.

The Philadelphia 76ers have done both of these, for instance. First, they signed veteran guard Tyler Johnson, then added G-Leaguers Charlie Brown Jr. and Braxton Key. Both had spent time in the Sixers' organization, playing for their affiliate the Delaware Blue Coats.

While no team wants to be in this position, some good can come from the opportunity given to the players on the fringe of making an NBA roster. There are sure to be multiple instances where a guy finds a home after impressing in his short stint with a team. That being said, there is one player currently on a 10-day who the Sixers should keep a close eye on.

After being out of the league for two years, longtime Pacer Lance Stephenson is back in the NBA. He first spent some time with the Atlanta Hawks and is now back in Indiana.

Since returning, his numbers have not exactly jumped off the page. That all changed Wednesday when Stephenson went for 30 points and five assists against a fully-loaded Brooklyn Nets squad. He even had a stretch where he scored 20 consecutive points for the Pacers.

During his prime, Stephenson was known to have big performances like this off the bench. At only 31-years-old, it is clear he still has more than enough in the tank to give to an NBA team. This is exactly the type of move Daryl Morey should be eyeing to upgrade the Sixers in the margins.

It is also worth noting Stephenson was on the Sixers' radar before this season began. During last year's Summer League, he held a workout in Vegas in hopes of landing an NBA contract. Among the teams who sent a representative to watch was the Sixers.

With minimal assets at their disposal, Morey is limited in what he can use to upgrade the roster before the playoff push begins. Bringing in a guy like Lance Stephenson is a low-risk, high-reward move that could pay huge dividends down the road.

The Sixers need more ballhandling and shot creation, and Stephenson brings that in bunches. Pairing him with Shake Milton in the second unit would give them a pair of guards who can score and create on all three levels. On top of that, he also has 57 playoff games under his belt.

Even if it's just for a 10-day to see what he can do, Morey should be heavily monitoring this situation moving forward.