The Philadephia 76ers will easily be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference who will draw interest from some of the top free agents in 2019. Despite a strong playoff run, the Sixers are still being constructed to become the next dynasty in the NBA. With cornerstones Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, they have their point guard and center as the foundation. What's missing is a top scorer such as Kevin Durant.
There are reports that Durant will likely decline his player option with the Golden State Warriors and become a free agent in 2019. If that happens, then the Sixers must pounce. Yes, bringing back Tobias Harris and hoping Jimmy Butler exercises his Player Option would be good, but there are no guarantees that will happen. If both players were to walk, the Sixers will be loaded with disposable cash.
The 76ers will have six contracts on the books for 2019 if Butler decides to opt-out. While Elton Brand will look to re-sign players such as J.J. Redick and Mike Scott to team-friendly deals, Brand must also go for the top of the pile. Why not swing for the fences with Kevin Durant?
With rumors that the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, or Los Angeles Lakers may be a good destination, what the Sixers have to offer should not be overlooked. For one, this is the Eastern Conference where Durant can easily make a run reminiscent of what LeBron James did for eight seasons. His reasons for wanting to depart the Warriors could be the criticism he has taken or maybe it's time for a new challenge.
Imagine a lineup that features Simmons, Embiid, and Durant. To be fair, it's still not as dangerous as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and DeMarcus Cousins, but that Sixers lineup would run the East. Durant's time with the Warriors provided him with two championships and possibly more by the end of these playoffs. But still, he may feel he wants to be a difference maker and not an add-on.
In Golden State, he joined a championship winning team. If he were to come to Philly, he would be the missing link, thus earning some of his lost respect back. But for the Sixers, he won't come cheap. His current deal with the Warriors is for an annual salary of $31 million for the 2019 season. While this would put a major dent in the Sixers' cap, they do have the cash to get it done and still make other moves to shore up a thin roster.
While the Sixers are a threat to come out of the East this season, adding a pure scorer/clutch player like Durant would give them the NBA cred needed to help lure other big name talents for possibly lesser contracts. That is how the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat were able to sustain their runs with LeBron James.
For the remaining core of the 76ers, this would give them another player able to create off the dribble. One who can play defense, hit from any spot on the floor, and would come in with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he doesn't need Curry or Thompson to win a title.
While Redick has been great as the off-guard and shooting guard, adding Durant would give them two of the best perimeter players in the NBA to go along with the penetration of Simmons and the inside presence of Embiid. For his career, Durant has never had the chance to play alongside a dominant big. In his career, he's been led by two of the best point guards in Russell Westbrook and Curry, but neither are like Simmons.
While Curry and Westbrook are scorers, Simmons is a set-up-the-offense type of player. He thinks pass first. With Simmons running the show, Durant could easily see an increase in scoring.
LeBron tried to change conferences and couldn't get it done with the Lakers. If Kevin Durant were to join the Philadelphia 76ers, a title would almost assuredly follow for the City of Brotherly Love.
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