The Philadelphia 76ers have a crucial offseason in front of them. Daryl Morey is set to put his fingerprints on the roster and build a contender around Joel Embiid and James Harden. This is a strong duo to build around but one where the window will not be open forever. It is clear there needs to be some changes to the supporting cast if the team wants to elevate into being a contender. James Harden recently made news for opting out of his $47.4 million player option for a more team-friendly long-term deal. This provides the Sixers with more cap flexibility this year as they look to complete the roster.
Morey made a win-now move by passing on making a selection in the draft in favor of trading for De’Anthony Melton. This likely is not the only move Morey is targeting this offseason. Regardless, the focus will turn to free agency where the Sixers will look to complete the roster. The franchise has missed in the margins the past few seasons. They must be sure not to make the same mistake this year. Here are three guys the Sixers should avoid adding ahead of the 2022 season.
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3 players Sixers must avoid in 2022 NBA free agency
Bradley Beal
There have been whispers linking the Sixers to Bradley Beal for quite some time. There is a real argument that the Sixers need more scoring firepower after failing to make it past the conference semifinals for the fifth consecutive season. While the addition of James Harden has been solid, and it is the right decision to bring him back, he is not the MVP-level player he once was. Harden is much more of a playmaker at this stage of his career and does so at an extremely high level. Pairing Bradley Beal with his high-level playmaking understandably is intriguing.
However, even with the pay cut the Sixers are still tight on money. It would take some serious cap gymnastics to make room for Beal and it would not be worth it for Philadelphia. Scoring is still a need for the Sixers, but rounding out the bench is a much bigger concern. Tyrese Maxey is improving at such a rapid rate and may even be able to handle the necessary scoring load this season. Taking away his opportunity for growth rather than upgrading the rest of the roster would be a mistake. The NBA has shifted away from the Big 3 era as more complete rosters have led to success. The Sixers should follow this path and pass on the three-time all-star.
Zach LaVine
Similar to Beal, Zach LaVine has also been a rumored potential Sixers target. The 27-year-old has an intriguing skill set with his well-rounded game. He averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists last season with the Chicago Bulls. LaVine also would demand a high price tag that would require salary movement. While the numbers will not be clear until Harden officially signs his long-term deal, it appears likely PJ Tucker at $10 million per season will be the Sixers' largest free-agent target.
The NBA is a star-driven league but that should not distract from the importance of the remaining roster. The Sixers bench unit has simply not cut it in past seasons. Targeting players who are upgrades over Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, and Shake Milton would benefit the team greatly. The addition of De’Anthony Melton is a strong start but there are still targets to be had.
Joe Ingles
One solid bench piece likely to be in the Sixers' price range is Joe Ingles. The former Jazz standout was traded to the Trail Blazers last season and also will be coming off a torn ACL. Ingles is a solid bench player who has career averages of 8.6 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. He also is a career 40.8% three-point shooter which would be an asset as the Sixers averaged 36.5% as a team last year.
While he would be valuable on the offensive end, Ingles’ defensive struggles would cause issues for the Sixers. Philly’s roster has been made up of one-dimensional role players for too long. For all Matisse Thybulle brings on the defensive end, he shows zero ability on offense. While the three-point influx of Georges Niang and Furkan Korkmaz is great on the offensive end, they are major targets for opponents on the other side of the ball. Unfortunately, Joe Ingles would also fit in this category.
The Sixers have taken some steps in the right direction already this offseason but there is still work to do. Ensuring they capitalize and complete the roster is crucial to them reaching their contending goals. Targeting role players who can compete on both sides of the ball and fit alongside James Harden and Joel Embiid should be the sole focus. Losing focus on this in favor of the bigger stars could ultimately shut the Sixers’ championship window.
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