The Philadelphia 76ers added two players to their roster whom they believe will boost their chances to make a deeper playoff run and raise the Larry O'Brien Trophy. We can say that these signings didn't make the biggest waves. However, at least at face value, Georges Niang and Andre Drummond are what the Sixers need given their shortcomings last season. Let's grade these two players and how they'll fit with the 76ers and the organization's quest for that elusive NBA title.
76ers grades: Georges Niang: B+
The 76ers signed forward Georges Niang to a two-year, $6.7 million deal. The 28-year-old spent the last few seasons with the Utah Jazz and the 2020-21 NBA season could be tagged as his best campaign. He played all 72 games as a member of the second unit. He averaged 6.9 points and shot a stellar 42.5 percent from deep. This is a very productive output for someone who played just 16.0 minutes per game.
There's good reason to believe that Niang will play a similar role in Philly. Although don't be surprised if coach Doc Rivers inserts him alongside Joel Embiid. Niang's shooting fits extremely well with Joel Embiid's interior game. The 6-foot-7 forward has also shown some potential in his driving game. He's become aware that defenders tend to launch at him as he sets up from deep. He's smart enough to utilize the fake to clear the lane and finish. This needs a little work, though, as Niang isn't really reliable as a finisher.
Another wrinkle in his game is his defense. He's 6-foot-7 but lacks the mobility that other players of his size. He has the strength and heft but doesn't have the height to guard bigger forwards. The LA Clippers abused this in the playoffs and often targetted him. To be fair, Niang has shown some relative improvement. But he'll need to boost this part of his game a bit more to become a key part of the 76ers' roster.
Andre Drummond: A
When Andre Drummond joined the 76ers, fans and analysts were quick to laugh at his rivalry with Joel Embiid. The two have been going at it for the past few years. Now that they're teammates, how will they co-exist? Well, the answer is simple. Embiid and Drummond are two grown men and absolute professionals. They know what to do.
Overall, the Drummond acquisition bodes well for the 76ers. You can say that Drummond is Dwight Howard's replacement and effectively Embiid's new backup big. Drummond is a rebounding machine, having led the league in boards for four seasons. When Embiid sits, the 76ers will continue to have a significant presence on the boards.
We cannot give this acquisition an A+ simply because Drummond is too good to be a bench player. Although he himself has embraced this possibility, relegating him to a bench role is not exactly ideal as he's well within his prime. Yes, Drummond's performance might have slid a bit since leaving the Pistons. From the looks of it, Drummond just needs the right team to perform at a maximum. Can Rivers insert him alongside Embiid to form a twin tower duo? Maybe. But not in this era. Or if Drummond has a reliable outside game. There's no doubt Drummond will become a key part of the team. But not seeing him living to his full potential will be heartbreaking.
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