The Philadelphia 76ers have the potential to go from young, mid-seed playoff team to a top-tier championship contender with a quick flick of a pen. It’s no surprise Philadelphia has been pegged as an elite free agent destination, considering the Sixers’ exceeded expectations, highly touted coaching staff, and culture.
The young core is expected to grow into a dangerous group, drawing comparisons to the early version of these Golden State Warriors or the Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant. There are a lot of enticing qualities for stars to join this young group, including enough cap space to put the Sixers in optimal position to sign them.
But as rumors swirl on the horizon of free agency, the light of the Sixers’ offseason potential has dimmed. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard seem to be angling towards Los Angeles while LeBron James will once again keep the world in the dark. There’s a real possibility the Sixers end the summer without their big catch.
The Boston Celtics handling the Sixers in five easy games without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward prompted head coach and interim general manager Brett Brown to preach aggressiveness this summer. After all, Boston will return to full strength next season with Hayward’s playmaking on the wings and Irving’s devastating isolation scoring; making the Celtics the deepest team in terms of top-end talent outside of the Warriors.
Philadelphia can still keep pace, however, even if another elite player isn’t within their grasp just yet.
3. Draft help is waiting on the wings
The key to Boston’s 2017-18 success once Kyrie Irving went down was excellent two-way play from its premium young wings, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, alongside elite big man Al Horford. In the playoffs, the Celtics were able to create mismatches against J.J. Redick or Marco Belinelli to compromise the Sixers’ schemes.
With the Sixers having only one two-way wing in Robert Covington—whose shooting wilted in the playoffs—the main focus should be collecting every lengthy perimeter player with a spark of shooting potential money can buy.
It starts on draft night. With the top 10 prospects shuffling up and down mock drafts, it's safe to assume the Sixers will have at least their second and third draft options within the scope of their range at the 10th pick. Unless it trades its pick, Philadelphia is likely choosing between Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges, Kevin Knox, Lonnie Walker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, or Zhaire Smith. This will allow Philadelphia to hold onto some crucial cap room while still obtaining an impact wing.
Mikal Bridges, Zhaire Smith, and Kevin Knox reportedly had impressive workouts with Philadelphia. Bridges and Smith would fortify a shaky perimeter defense, while Knox would add another effective outside shooter. The benefit of the Sixers' past asset collection will have to be utilized this year to the fullest extent. Which is why they should target another wing with the 26th pick in the draft.
The last half of the draft isn't going to produce some surprise star but it could produce a quality rotation player. Troy Brown, Dzanan Musa, and Keita Bates-Diop are high potential wings who may not be the instant impact their draftmates in the top 10 are but could develop into key role players. With the Sixers holding another four picks in the second-round, expect some home run swings on lengthy prospects who are currently fringe NBA players.
2. Free Agency Plan B
Free agency is still full of wing players that can turn the Sixers from hopefuls into contenders. The first objective should be bringing back J.J. Redick. Redick is one of the better catch and shoot options in the league and Brett Brown utilized off-ball flare screens perfectly to allow for his talent to be showcased. The problem is, how much of a pay cut would he be willing to take? His one-year, $23 million deal is not repeatable for any team in the league, but will Philadelphia be able to bring him on a two-year, $30 million deal?
If so, that could still allow for some kind of room for wing options. Priority number one should be Avery Bradley. Coming off a horrid year by his standards, Bradley is still a good off-ball defender and would excel in a Philadelphia team defense that was top five in the league last season. Assuming the Sixers nab both Bradley and Redick, it would allow coach Brett Brown to once again use depth and versatility within the rotation.
Ben Simmons, Bradley, and Covington would make an impervious defense along the perimeter, playing into Brown's defensive scheme that included some of the most frequent on-ball switches in the league. Offensively, Bradley would just have to serve as a fifth option in the starting lineup and maybe as the third scoring option off the bench. There is in aligned fit for both parties involved if financials line up and Bradley could have himself a bounce back year in this situation. Other lesser options are Rudy Gay and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Fultz Factor
Even with new additions, the Sixers will once again be depending on an unproven player. Like the Sixers rookies before him, Markelle Fultz had to take a year off (almost). The reason is still up for debate, but a diabolical year that oddly changed his status from a perfectly rounded prospect to an unknown with a shake jump shot has lowered the Sixers' ceiling some.
Fultz has been training with the Drew Hanlen, who was the magician behind Joel Embiid's outside shot and post moves, which gives signs of hope Fultz can once again find his deadly jump shot. Nonetheless, Fultz can still be effective. In his 10 games back from injury, Fultz had spurts of explosiveness to the rim and showed some defensive prowess as well.
Even with Simmons and Embiid on superstar trajectories, Fultz remains a key piece capable of vaulting the Sixers even higher. As the Boston Celtics patiently sit back on their pile of growth, the Sixers will have to aggressively work in the offseason to stay on track. LeBron, Kawhi, or no one, Philadelphia is far from limited.
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