Well, Tuesday’s late-night Woj bomb was certainly a downer. In case you missed it, the New York Knicks gave up a massive draft pick haul to land the Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges. The price was steep, but man, it makes the team that just eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs even better.
Onto happier things.
The Sixers actually have draft picks this year! They possess a first-rounder (No. 16) and second-rounder (No. 41). While a trade is very much in play for pick 16, Daryl Morey and company could have a few intriguing options fall into their laps.
With that in mind, we rounded up all the latest mock drafts from a few of our trusted sources.
Could Dillingham really slide to 16?
Why do Kentucky guards always slide in the draft? The 2024 version of that appears to be Rob Dillingham. Both Sam Vecenie of The Athletic and the folks over at No Ceilings have the dynamic guard slipping all the way to 16.
Per Vecenie (who is the best in business in this writer’s humble opinion):
“Philadelphia has cleared significant cap space to go star-hunting, so, if the right deal becomes available, this pick could be used to further that goal. … The 76ers will likely take a ‘best player available’ approach under Daryl Morey if they keep the pick.
“Dillingham averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game this past season while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3. He maintains control well despite playing at a fast pace, using a bevy of crossovers and well-timed hesitation moves to maximize his speed. Evaluators are confident he’ll be able to separate from his man in the NBA.”
Analysis: I’ve long held the belief that the Sixers will move this pick one way or another — the most likely option being a trade down to acquire more draft capital. But if a player as special as Dillingham drops, Morey has to consider it. The knocks on Dillingham are his size and his defense (kind of related), but he is an elite shot creator that can also really shoot it. A long-term Maxey-Dillingham backcourt is risky, but my goodness, would it be dynamic offensively.
McCain is an exciting option if he slips
Chances are Dillingham will go before 16, but if he slips at all, it could mean other guards are slipping as well. ESPN and Bleacher Report both have the Sixers snagging Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain at 16.
Per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony:
“The Sixers are known to have conducted only a handful of workouts, possibly the fewest of any team drafting in the first round. That info has caused some speculation that this pick could be on the move, depending on which player falls to No. 16.
Regardless of who is picking, McCain has an easy niche he can fill in the NBA with his scoring versatility, basketball instincts, competitiveness and smarts, making him an attractive option for teams drafting in this range.”
Analysis: While McCain might not be in the same category as Dillingham, he’s pretty damn special in his own right. Like Dillingham, size will be the issue — McCain is a 6-foot-2 two guard with a 6-3 wingspan. But as Givony states above, McCain should be able to overcome his disadvantages because he’s an elite shooter with amazing feel. He also fights like hell on defense and is a smart team defender. Again, if he’s there, the Sixers have to consider simply taking him.
Walter is an elite 3-and-D starter kit
If Dillingham and McCain go off the board before 16 — much like they did in the SB Nation community mock draft — Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter could prove to be the best player available. Krysten Peek of Yahoo and Tankathon have the Sixers drafting the high-volume shooting wing.
Per Peek:
“Walter’s game translates better to the NBA than what scouts saw from him in college. He has good size at the guard position and elite shooting mechanics. With the spacing of the NBA game, it’ll free him more as a shooting threat with how well Tyrese Maxey plays with the ball in his hands and how much space Joel Embiid commands in the paint.”
Analysis: If the board falls this way, Morey would have to seriously consider a trade back. Still, Walter is plenty intriguing. He was a five-star recruit joining Baylor and he can really shoot it. He also has the makings of an elite defender. The floor is a high-level 3-and-D dog. He’s still just 19, so there’s a chance he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his ceiling yet.
Da Silva the safe pick
Rounding out our look around the mock draftosphere is Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. KOC has the Sixers taking Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva, maybe one of the safest picks in the draft.
Per KOC:
Da Silva is one of the safer bets to find success in the NBA because of his two-way abilities, and the Sixers could use his size and versatility no matter what they end up doing in free agency.
Analysis: Despite his banging on the table for Killian Hayes a couple years back, KOC typically provides good draft analysis. In this instance I couldn’t disagree more. When has Morey ever drafted a “safe” player? He’s always been much more prone to target the best player available and upside. Da Silva at 16 feels like a reach. That’s not even a knock on the player, who I think has excellent glue guy potential. It just doesn’t line up with Morey’s draft record.
Boom. In the quiet, with less than 24 hours before the start of Wednesday’s 2024 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks are shipping out four future unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected swap, a second-rounder and Bojan Bogdanovic for Mikal Bridges.
BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle on a trade to send F Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TEGsIpoa3b
In a follow up tweet, Woj added: “The Knicks pay a steep price to land one of the league’s most coveted trade assets and the Nets get a massive haul to replenish assets and embark on a rebuild with mass cap space and future draft picks.”
With Jalen Brunson, fresh off his first All-Star bid, the All-NBA Second team, and having finished fourth in MVP voting, along with Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, Bridges will now round out the Villanova Knicks.
The Knicks go deeper into the Villanova national championship roster — bringing Mikal Bridges to join his old teammates and close friends Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. pic.twitter.com/G544CT02zI
The Nets once depleted their draft warchest for James Harden, who they then traded for Ben Simmons back in 2022. So this allows Brooklyn, who has reportedly turned down numerous other offers for the quintessential 3-and-D stud in the past, to restock and then some.
The next major question for the Knicks is what this could mean, if anything, for OG Anunoby’s future?
The former Raptor recently opted out of his one-year player option. And all insiders seem to agree that he’s all but certain to re-sign in New York. Would adding Bridges, someone who essentially plays the same small forward position as OG, change the equation? Could this be a form of “insurance” should Anunoby somehow walk? There have at least been rumors that OG’s camp was not satisfied with the extension offers he received from Knicks’ President Leon Rose — fueling rumors out of Philadelphia, a team named by numerous sources as having interest.
But there is still plenty of room to keep him around in New York if they trim in other places.
According to Yossi Gozlan, previously with Hoops Hype, the Knicks are now hard-capped yet could still theoretically retain both Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The New York Knicks are now hard capped to the $178.7 million first apron by taking back more salary than they’re sending out.
This will have roster-building implications.
They could still re-sign OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they’ll need to reduce payroll elsewhere.
Where would they cut costs then? We’ve already seen rumors that Mitchell Robinson could be on the move, with the Wizards being one team named.
Another former All-NBA Second Teamer, Julius Randle, also has a hefty salary, and should offer back some value if the Knicks looked to move the former Lakers and Pelicans power forward too. If they truly want to avoid the hard cap, then it makes sense why SNY’s Ian Begley had this to add:
NYK free agent C Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to be a top target for several opposing teams in free agency. With the offers that Hartenstein is expected to command on open market, it’s become increasingly unlikely that NYK will be able to retain Hartenstein, per SNY sources
A little tidbit: Bogdanovic for Bridges would mean the Knicks taking on money in this trade, which would hard cap them at the first apron. If they found a way to guarantee Diakite and Jeffries and include them in the deal to Brooklyn, they would not be hard capped.
As far as the Sixers are concerned, well, you can figure out the bad news rather quickly. Not only does Bridges’ name go off the trade market, he lands with the very team that just knocked Joel Embiid and the squad out of the playoffs back in May.
In many ways, Mikal would have made a perfect fit playing alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — and it doesn’t make things any easier to swallow remembering the Sixers once drafted the rangy wing before quickly trading him on Draft Day 2018.
As for Paul George? Well, the Knicks were one team that had been rumored to potentially have interest in PG should the nine-time All-Star opt in to his one-year player option. Brian Windhorst, Marc Stein and other reporters had previously named the Knicks as a team to watch should the Clippers’ former All-NBA forward pass up the chance to hit free agency — where Daryl Morey and the Sixers would almost certainly have a $212M max four-year deal waiting for the Palmdale native… assuming they don’t surprise us between now and July 1 like the Knicks just did.
With this move, George may lose one option he may have had in an opt-in and trade scenario. That is likely the one part of this move that Morey will — at least momentarily — enjoy. But the Golden State Warriors have already been named as another team to keep close watch on if PG doesn’t wind up hitting free agency but rather seeking trade from his native L.A.
The Athletic’s Fred Katz has been reminding fans that Anunoby is likely re-signing with the Knicks. And with this news bomb, Katz doesn’t appear to be changing his tune much:
One thought: A team that thinks it will lose OG Anunoby probably doesn’t trade away four unprotected first-round picks before free agency begins.
Told that Knicks’ trade for Mikal Bridges does not change their hope that they can re-sign free agent OG Anunoby. That remains a priority for the club.
If the Knicks really started to feel a cap crunch, in the instance they do keep Anunoby on a deal somewhere in the (rumored) $35M annual-range, perhaps Hartenstein would ultimately become New York’s casualty of this Bridges blockbuster.
The Nets were not done either.
More fro Woj on X:
“Another massive deal: Brooklyn has a deal with Houston to return the Nets’ 2026 first-round pick for a 2027 Phoenix Suns first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Rockets also acquire 2025 right to swap Houston/OKC first for 2025 Suns first-round pick. More details coming on picks deal.”
Most importantly in the deal, per sources: Houston relinquishes the right to swap a Houston/OKC first-round pick for Brooklyn’s 2025 first-round pick. The Nets control their own pick as they go into a full rebuild — especially important in talented 2025 draft. https://t.co/jUR0f5lSjM
So not only do the Nets “make up” for some of the picks they lost in that Harden deal by moving Bridges to the Knicks, they recouped some of their own picks they once moved in 2020-2021.
That means… wait for it… you guessed it… the Nets can finally tank and “improve” their own picks — something they couldn’t do back when the Boston Celtics possessed Brooklyn’s lottery picks — helping Danny Ainge and subsequent execs like Brad Stevens begin building the current 2024 champs back in 2016.
On the Rockets side of things, Woj had this to add:
The implications of the Rockets landing the Suns’ picks? Houston wants to trade for Kevin Durant and that becomes far easier if they can return the Suns’ picks that they gave up in the Durant deal to the Nets. Suns have said they’re keeping Durant for now, but that could change…
Rockets possess a pick swap with Suns in 2025, Suns’ pick in 2027 and could end up with the Suns’ pick in 2029 based on contingencies. If the Suns are ever faced with breaking up team, Houston’s also in prime position to pursue a younger Devin Booker. For now, Phoenix is trying… https://t.co/p29C3XSpe2
So now Morey and co. can keep watching the clock hoping that there isn’t a news bomb that PG has opted in; unless of course the Sixers have one of these shockers brewing themselves.
And oh right, maybe Kevin Durant could be available too, I guess? Add Durant to your wish list along with PG, Jimmy Butler, Anunoby and Brandon Ingram.
Must be nice….
Nets surely didn’t want to trade Mikal Bridges to NYK but Bridges’ side was prepared to force the issue by telling teams he wanted to be w/NYK, per SNY sources. Bridges’ side made it clear to BKN that he wanted to be w/NYK, reunite w/Villanova teammates Brunson, Hart, DiVincenzo
The Sixers’ vibes are a little different this season ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.
At this time last year, we didn’t know what would happen with James Harden. The Sixers also had zero draft picks. Well, Harden is a Clipper (for now) and thanks to the trade that sent The Beard to L.A., the Sixers now have a decent chunk of draft capital.
Going into Wednesday night, the Sixers own a first-round pick (No. 16) and a second-round pick (No. 41). They also have one player on a guaranteed contract (Joel Embiid) and another that is about to receive a max contract (Tyrese Maxey). That means Morey could potentially have 13 roster spots to fill before the start of the 2024-25 season.
But what will the Sixers do? Take a player at 16? Trade back to acquire more future picks and provide more cap flexibility? Trade it in a package for a player? This is likely the type of optionality Morey envisioned when he enacted his cap space plan. Wednesday night’s draft will reveal the first phase of that plan.
Below are all the draft profiles we published at Liberty Ballers over the last month.
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Just as it felt more and more realistic that the Philadelphia 76ers could pry Los Angeles Clippers’ star Paul George away from the SoCal native’s home, Shams Charania tweeted last week that the Sixers’ interest in the nine-time All-Star has “significantly waned.”
Did the price of someone like Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, Jazz star Lauri Markkanen or Knicks’ star OG Anunoby suddenly drop? What would cause PG to go from Philadelphia’s “Plan A” (as had been previously speculated by insiders all offseason) to a consolation prize — just days away from both the 2024 NBA Draft and free agency period?
In the several days since that Shams bomb, we’ve heard numerous bits of intel suggesting that some rival teams or insiders are not quite convinced Daryl Morey and the Sixers’ front office has cooled on the PG plan A — and that PG may opt into his one-year player option and seek a trade.
Every year, the folks at SB Nation put together a community mock draft, where people around the network take part. For us at LB, I (Paul Hudrick) took up the mantle for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Firstly, it’s been super exciting to break down prospects with the Sixers having two picks this year (Nos. 16 and 41). Last year was brutal — though Daryl Morey and co. did quite well post-draft in signing a pair of undrafted players: breakout rookie Ricky Council IV and microwave scorer Terquavion Smith.
Harrison Grimm and I have been doing our best to break down as many prospects as possible. It’s been arduous, but it’s also been a labor of love for the two of us.
Anyway, here’s what went down with the mock draft:
Sixers select Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter
In this mock draft, several of the players you would hope could fall to the Sixers do not. The five picks directly in front of them went: USC’s Isaiah Collier, Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham, Providence’s Devin Carter, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Duke’s Jared McCain. Any of those five might’ve been the pick had they fallen.
Let’s be transparent: if the board falls this way, I’d expect Morey to trade back. He might do that anyway if a player slips that other teams would covet. But understandably for this exercise there were no trades allowed. So, we move.
There were a few options that were really intriguing, even if not as spectacular as the ones above. Walter, Pitt’s Bub Carrington and Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva were all under serious consideration. Carrington’s creation ability is undeniable, but his inability to get all the way to the rim and questions about his defense have me concerned. Da Silva is an ideal glue guy, but he’s also 23 years old. It wouldn’t line up with previous Morey drafts to select a plug-and-play player this high.
Carrington would’ve been the upside pick. Da Silva would’ve been the safe pick. In Walter, you land right in the middle.
Walter’s floor is a 3-and-D wing that plays like an absolute dog. Though he hit a shooting slump during the middle of the season, he confidently fired from deep at a high volume all year long. Over his first 15 games, he hit over 40% from deep on 5.7 attempts per game. Over his last nine games, he made 38.5% on 7.2 attempts per game. But for 11 games in the middle of the season, he hit a wall. Still, 24 games of elite, high-volume shooting vs. 11 games of poor shooting.
Defensively, this guy plays like a maniac. He slides his feet well and hounds guards and wings in point-of-attack defense. He uses his 6-10 wingspan to his advantage in multiple ways, on and off the ball. He gets steals and deflections, and should easily be able to guard up at the next level because of his length and physicality. He has an excellent motor, never giving up on plays and going after loose balls.
If you’re talking “star potential,” perhaps someone like Carrington has more, but Walter is still only 19 years old and was five-star recruit. Walter doesn’t have Carrington’s ability to break people down off the dribble, but who’s to say he can’t improve there? It doesn’t look like Walter will ever be a high-level playmaker, but an elite movement shooter with slashing ability — that could turn into an elite defender — sounds pretty damn good playing next to guys like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Walter just feels like a winning player. Yes, you need stars in the NBA, but star role players are also important. Walter seems like a guy that can contribute to winning early on and possibly scale up as he gains NBA experience. The 3-and-D wing is a sacred jewel in the modern NBA. The Sixers get an elite starter kit here — with the potential for more.
The 2024 NBA Draft is set for this coming Wednesday. We can guess that Daryl Morey, Elton Brand and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers front office are busy investigating pretty much every option under the sun.
We’re also less than a week away from what could become a Philly-legacy-shaping free agency period for the Joel Embiid era. No biggie. Let’s jump right in.
All-Star and Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey’s big option
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
According to Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, Tyrese Maxey, expected to sign a five-year max deal at some point in time this summer, could receive a player option for the final year of his pending deal.
Per Scotto:
“The most certain thing for Philadelphia is Tyrese Maxey re-signing on a max extension, league sources said. However, after having to wait a year and being patient with Philadelphia’s front office as it prioritized max cap space, keep an eye on Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul wanting a player option on the final year of Maxey’s new contract and the full 15 percent trade kicker he’s eligible for in negotiations, HoopsHype has learned.”
Maxey could have inked himself a max extension one year ago. The constantly evolving combo guard deferred for 12 months in a win-win player-team maneuver. Maxey rolled the dice to bet on himself both to grant the team more cap-flex this summer as well as Maxeymize his own potential earnings.
After falling short of the votes the Garland, Texas native needed to make an All-NBA team, his max earnings will come in around $205M on a five-year deal (it would have been a substantially higher figure if he made any of the three All-NBA teams).
But as a your welcome for deferring, it sounds like Maxey’s Klutch Sports agent, Rich Paul, is gunning to negotiate Maxey an option for the 2028 summer. In a perfect outcome for Morey, one can guess the Team President would have preferred to lock up the first-time All-Star, still just 23-years old, for as long as humanly possible. But he probably won’t quibble much here.
Whatever you want, Tyrese. We love you, we value you dearly, you’re essentially untouchable, and we want you to retire with No. 0 hanging in our future new arena’s rafters one day next to Joel’s No. 21 and a new championship banner or five.
Draft intel
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
According to ESPN’s resident NBA draft guru, Jonathon Givony, the Sixers are still widely expected to shop their upcoming pick at No. 16. But there are a couple of names to keep an eye on if they opt to retain their selection.
Jared McCain is a deadly shooter, fueled by precise shot preparation, exceptional balance, a strong lower body/core, and a compact release. In his freshman season at Duke, he shot 41% from 3-point range on 215 attempts, shooting at a blistering 57% clip in transition. pic.twitter.com/5znS84rUBM
“The Sixers are known to have conducted only a handful of workouts, possibly the fewest of any team drafting in the first round. That info has caused some speculation that this pick could be on the move, depending on which player falls to No. 16.
Regardless of who is picking, [Jared] McCain has an easy niche he can fill in the NBA with his scoring versatility, basketball instincts, competitiveness and smarts, making him an attractive option for teams drafting in this range.”
Givony also noted that one of the few players the team hosted was PacomeDadiet, a soon-to-be 19-year-old out of France.
18 Year Old 6’8 NBA Draft Prospect Pacome Dadiet @pacomedadiet has been climbing mock drafts and is projected be selected in the 1st round. Measured just under 6’8 without shoes with a 36inch vert. Spaces the floor and can get his own shot @ratiopharmulmpic.twitter.com/lzzjBNYwMH
Scotto also threw Ja’Kobe Walter, a shooter from Baylor’s name out there, in the event the 76ers cannot re-sign free-agent-to-be, sniper Buddy Hield:
“Lastly, with sharpshooter Buddy Hield entering unrestricted free agency, Ja’Kobe Walter offers a cheaper 3-and-D replacement and a much better perimeter defender with a 6-foot-10 wingspan in the draft.”
Paul George
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Of course, no rumor roundup is complete without some of the latest on Los Angeles Clippers’ star Paul George. Is he the Sixers “Plan A?” Has their interest “significantly waned?” Liberty Ballers analyzed that in-depth, processing loads of intel over the weekend.
But Monday offered us even more slop to feast on.
Per Brian Windhorst on ESPN’s “Get Up:”
If Paul George decides to opt-in and request a trade, it could happen as soon as THIS WEEKEND per @WindhorstESPN.
“He could opt-in and get traded by this weekend. That is something that is going to come to a head in the next day or two.”
“Well, let’s remember that Paul George has three options. One is to re-sign with the Clippers. Two is to enter free agency and go somewhere else like Philly or Orlando. Three, he can opt into his contract and get traded by this weekend. That is something that is gonna come to a head in the next day or two if he wants to go with that option. ’Cause obviously you’d have to negotiate a trade and then the team wouldn’t necessarily need salary cap space. So the Paul George sweepstakes is gonna come to a head, at least that aspect of it, faster than those other players who are gonna be free agents like Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan. So Paul George has a different menu of options and we’re gonna see some action in that probably coming up very quickly after the draft.”
When Windhorst says that the sweepstakes is going to come to a head faster than players who are more definitively set to hit free agency on July 1, it’s my belief that he expects that to happen — even if he is not certain.
I’m also basing this opinion off what he said a few days ago on a similarly themed ESPN appearance:
“If Paul George changes teams, it’s very likely going to be a situation where he opts into his contract and requests a trade. The Clippers have an offer on the table that is believed to be similar to what they gave Kawhi Leonard, which is a 3-year deal at just below the max.”
Windhorst has bandied the idea that PG could land up with the New York Knicks. And Marc Stein, via Substack newsletter, over the weekend mentioned that possibility as well:
Per Stein:
“Another trusted source has advised me to keep the Knicks on the list as a potential trade suitor for George if the All-NBA swingman indeed opts into the final season of his current contract at 48.8M. That would position George to push for a trade to another team.”
And Scotto on this one too:
“As Marc Stein reported, the Knicks have interest in Paul George, who can opt into his $48.8 million player option to facilitate a trade.
New York’s interest dates back to last year at the NBA Draft when the Knicks discussed a package featuring Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, and three first-round picks in exchange for George, as previously reported by HoopsHype.
The George interest surfaced at a curious time, after the Knicks low-balled forward OG Anunoby during early free agent discussions on a potential new deal, as Brian Windhorst first reported, and league sources confirmed to HoopsHype.
When the Knicks first acquired Anunoby, the belief was that he’d land a deal in the $30-35 million a year range annually, league sources told HoopsHype. Now, however, that value has gone up, starting at $35 million annually to his maximum starting salary for next season, sources said.”
“I expect Knicks to go to whatever lengths they need to retain OG Anunoby. They know what they gave up…Max from another team 4/$182m…Knicks max 5/$245m; so Knicks don’t have to offer him max…Situation rigged to help Knicks. I think it will”
Boiling this down, if the Clippers are not willing to offer George more than a three-year $150Mish extension (as has been reported from numerous sources now), then he could earn substantially more by changing teams.
He can opt out and net up to $212M from both Philly and Orlando.
If he opts in and is traded, any acquiring team then possessing his Bird Rights, can offer him 8 percent raises (as opposed to 5%) on a four-year total deal, approaching near $221M.
So if Windy thinks PG opting in and being traded is the most likely scenario, and the Knicks have been most commonly mentioned as the team to watch in that hypothetical, then perhaps Knicks’ President Leon Rose is looking for yet another CAA All-Star client for his already well-rounded team.
But of course, the Knicks must also handle their OG Anunoby situation noted above. It feels like a game of chicken between George, the Clips, Sixers, Knicks, Magic, and perhaps even the Golden State Warriors— as has been speculated too.
It’s been rumored that the Knicks are hoping to come in with a $35M annual deal for the former Raptors wing, Anunoby. And that the Sixers still have interest there.
Scotto continues:
“Despite a recent report that Philadelphia’s interest in Paul George has cooled amid uncertainty about whether he’d go across the country and sign with Philadelphia in free agency, there remains significant interest from the 76ers in signing him as a free agent, league sources told HoopsHype.
Should the Sixers whiff on George, trying to trade for Jimmy Butler or sign OG Anunoby to a short-term, higher market average annual salary free agent deal are also options.”
When Scotto mentions that last scenario, we’ve already learned names like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Klay Thompson may remain fall back free agent options for Morey and co.
Scotto echoes the sentiment once more: “Another backup contingency free agency plan is the possibility of giving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a similar two-year deal to Bruce Brown with a higher first-year salary and team option in the second year, league sources told HoopsHype.”
Oh, and for whatever it’s worth, Udonis Haslem, former Heat lifer and current Miami Vice President of Basketball Development, thinks PG would fit best in Philly.
Per the UD the OG of Heat Culture OG’s:
“I would go to Philly if I’m Paul George….so he can definitely help that team, if he wants to win, ’cause I know he said ‘I ain’t ring chasing,’ that’s a damn lie. Everybody wants to win. Everybody ring chasing nowadays….you want a ring and you ain’t got one… you’re gonna have to go to the East, you ain’t gonna get one out West.”
Haslem was also asked on the “First Take” guest spot if he thinks there are questions around the league about the risk of joining forces with Embiid, given his health history. Haslem said there have been questions there but a player like PG should show up and have an authentic conversation about Joel’s “habits,” and the idea of forming a Big Three with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey that can defeat the Boston Celtics would appeal if he were in PG’s shoes.
Udonis “light years” Haslem. I guess this could even mean the Miami Heat are not a team to watch then for a Paul George trade.
An Alex Caruso ‘what if?’
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Finally, Scotto leaves us with one last what-if regarding Alex Caruso, recently traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Josh Giddey:
“While Philadelphia was also linked to a potential trade for Bulls guard Zach LaVine, the 76ers have less interest in taking on the remaining $138 million on his contract with Alex Caruso no longer able to be attached in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype.”
So I guess Philly would have considered adding LaVine more seriously if it also included the stud defensive guard, now with the Thunder.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is the G League Ignite’s Ron Holland.
Ron Holland was one of several prospects who opted to play with the G League Ignite rather than playing overseas or in the NCAA. After one year at a professional level, he’ll now make the jump to the NBA, where several analysts predict he could fall on draft night.
Athleticism, athleticism, athleticism. Holland is an explosive finisher around the rim and can hang in the air and score through contact. With the Ignite, he also showcased an ability to hit floaters as well. He’s a decisive attacker, often cutting to the rim, driving against closeouts and recognizing when backdoor cut opportunities are available. From a playmaking perspective, he’s a selfless passer that is capable of making fast decisions.
Defensively, he’s versatile with the mobility to switch onto a multitude of players. He hustles consistently and has good timing on chasedown blocks. Holland is one of the youngest players in this draft and will actually be 18 on draft day, but has plenty of experience with the G League and with USA Basketball’s junior teams, winning two gold medals.
Weaknesses
Holland’s biggest weakness revolves around his shooting. When spotting up, he has a stiff shot that doesn’t convert consistently. His free throw shooting, which is typically a good indicator on where a prospect’s shot is, is lackluster at 68.2 percent. I wouldn’t say his shot is fully broken, but there will definitely need to be some refinement in the coming years. Holland also struggles to convert when isolating; he’s better as a straight-line driver rather than creating his own shot.
Positional Fit
Ron Holland’s size, agility and playmaking should allow him to slot into several positions over time— especially if he can refine his shooting. For the first few years, I’d expect him to mainly slot in as a forward. Holland’s game has shades of a more skilled Gerald Wallace, or for younger fans Houston’s Tari Eason, or a younger Andrew Wiggins.
Draft Projection
SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 9, Memphis Grizziles
Many mocks have Holland going comfortable within the lottery, but there’s smoke out there that he could slide into the late lottery or out of it completely. If he’s available at 16, it’s hard to find a better talent that’ll still be on the board. Holland would also slot in nicely alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
For more on Holland, check out this feature from SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse became increasingly nihilistic by the end of the first-round series against the New York Knicks, but his impact was otherwise felt up and down the roster this year.
Joel Embiid averaged more than a point per minute this season and might have cruised to his second straight MVP had he met the NBA’s new 65-game minimum requirement. James Harden’s departure opened the door for Tyrese Maxey to flourish as the Sixers’ starting point guard, and he seized the opportunity with his first All-Star nod and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
Nurse’s impact wasn’t just limited to the Sixers’ two stars, though. During the playoffs, Kelly Oubre Jr. described Nurse as a “basketball genius” who was giving the team energy and motivation by being so “locked in.” Meanwhile, Nicolas Batum credited the Sixers’ coaching staff for his game-saving block against the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, telling reporters that they had showed him the exact play that Miami wound up running “literally like a minute before.”
Not only should that give the Sixers confidence that they have the right coach in place, but it could also widen their options this offseason as they ponder how to spend up to roughly $65 million in salary-cap space.
Take Brandon Ingram, for instance. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the New Orleans Pelicans have already contacted the Sixers about a potential Ingram trade, and Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reported the Sixers do have interest in him.
To some extent, it’s easy to see why. Ingram is one of only 10 players who averaged at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in each of the past three seasons. Standing 6’8” with a 7’3” wingspan, he has the physical tools to wreak havoc defensively, even though that’s never been one of his strong suits. (His 190-pound frame doesn’t help in that regard.)
Ingram would also bring some major fit questions with him to Philadelphia. He shot 38.6 percent from deep on 6.2 attempts per game across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, but he knocked down only 35.4 percent of his 3.9 long-range shots per game over the past three years. He’s also missed at least 18 games in each of the past three seasons and hasn’t topped 65 games since his rookie year in 2016-17 (!), which is hardly ideal for a team built around an injury-prone center.
Oh, and Ingram is fresh off a horrific playoff showing—he averaged only 14.3 points on 34.5 percent shooting as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept him and the Pelicans out of the first round—and is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. According to Christian Clark of the Times-Picayune, the Pelicans aren’t keen on handing him the four-year, $208.5 million max extension that he’ll be eligible for this summer, which explains why they’re shopping him around.
So, why are the Sixers reportedly interested in Ingram? They might be less concerned about his perceived fit issues with Maxey and Embiid thanks to Nurse.
Ingram has long been a dismal pull-up three-point shooter, but he’s far more potent on catch-and-shoot attempts. He shot a blistering 42.5 percent on those looks between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, whereas he knocked down only 29.5 percent of his pull-up three-point attempts across that span. If Nurse could coax Ingram into cutting down his pull-up jumpers and taking a higher volume of catch-and-shoot triples each game, he might be able to unlock some untapped upside in the 26-year-old forward.
DeMar DeRozan is another potential Sixers target this offseason who’d come with major fit questions of his own. He’s an even lower-volume three-point shooter than Ingram, and his on/off splits were a glaring red flag throughout most of his tenure in Toronto. However, he’s been one of the NBA’s kings of crunch time over the past few seasons.
Nurse might be able to devise an offensive scheme that mitigates the spacing concerns DeRozan would bring to Philadelphia. By introducing foreign concepts such as off-ball movement this past season, he helped Embiid take a major leap as a passer. Who’s to say he couldn’t have a similarly positive effect with DeRozan, who has averaged 25.5 points on 49.6 percent shooting, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds over the past three seasons with the Chicago Bulls?
The Sixers should keep Nurse and the rest of their coaching staff in mind while evaluating their offseason options. He doesn’t seem keen on offensive-minded players who are traffic cones on defense, which should give the Sixers pause before they spend major resources on someone who fits that mold. If they don’t have organizational alignment between their front office and coaching staff, they’ll be drawing dead from the jump.
But if Nurse believes he’d be able to get the best out of a particular player, fit issues be damned, that should give the front office more confidence as well. Acquiring that player might still be a gamble, but it might be an educated one thanks to Nurse and the rest of his coaching staff.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.
On Sunday afternoon we got a pair of reports from Marc Stein, via Substack and Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Within each report there is key intel confirming much of what we recently speculated about Paul George’s situation and dispelling the notion the team’s true interest in the nine-time All-Star has “significantly wanted.”
It wasn’t difficult to buy the idea that George may opt into his $48.7M one-year deal and seek trade and a max extension. But it was hard to believe the Sixers’ interest in signing George to a four-year $212M max deal had suddenly cooled — if he opted out and hit free agency.
Stein and Pompey’s reports are similar and lend credence to our prior hypothesis. We also got more intriguing updates on names like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram, OG Anunoby and a couple other names we’ve been following in connection to Philadelphia.
With the 2024 NBA Draft now just a few days away, let’s get to the free agency and trade rumors.
Kyle Lowry
First off, we’ve heard numerous times now that the Sixers are hoping to keep Kyle Lowry. Stein, a former NY Times reporter, dropped a loaded Sixers-centric edition of his Substack newsletter:
“I’ve been hearing for weeks now that the Clippers- even though Russell Westbrook possesses a $4M player option for next season- have interest in both [Chris] Paul and Kyle Lowry to supply backcourt depth. Lowry, though is a Philadelphia native who is widely expected to re-sign with the 76ers.”
And Pompey echoes much of the same sentiment.
Paul George via cash or trade, anyone?
According to Pompey, the idea that the Sixers’ interest in PG has “significantly waned” simply doesn’t add up:
“Clippers swingman Paul George had been listed as the Sixers’ top free-agent target for some time before Thursday’s report about their interest having “significantly waned.” But that doesn’t make sense, considering the nine-time All-Star fits with Embiid and Maxey and how long the Sixers coveted him…..
He has until [June 29] to opt into his $48.8 million contract for next season or become an unrestricted free agent. The Clippers can offer him a four-year, $221 million deal. However, they haven’t been willing to offer more than the three years, $152.3 million they gave Kawhi Leonard. The problem is George wants a four-year deal. The Sixers and other squads can offer four years and around $212 million.”
Stein’s sources apparently feel the same way:
“I am struggling to pinpoint third-party teams that put much stock in the recent leakage suggesting that the 76ers have cooled on the idea of pursuing George. Only the Sixers know their true intentions, but let’s just say there will be a healthy bit of skepticism leaguewide about the Sixers bowing out completely until PG-13 has either come to terms with the Clippers or landed somewhere other than Philly.”
Stein reiterates prior reports indicating George would like to remain in SoCal, where the Palmdale native grew up. But like some have reported in the past, Stein says the Clippers remain reluctant to “extend George a longer or richer deal than Kawhi Leonard’s recent three-year contract extension in the $150M range has put George’s future in legitimate flux.”
So no surprises there but the closer we get to next Saturday (PG’s deadline to opt in or out) without news that PG has opted in should be music to Morey’s ears. Philadelphia’s chances to nab PG for cash (and not have to use picks to trade for him, should he opt in) will have increased dramatically in that scenario.
Would PG opting in preclude Morey from landing him?
Pompey continued:
“One option for George is a sign-and-trade with the Clippers to a destination he desires. Los Angeles, which doesn’t have a first-round pick, would most likely ask for one in a package deal.
The Sixers could include the No. 16 pick and consider even adding Tobias Harris via a sign-and-trade as part of a package. L.A. has some level of interest in Harris, a soon-to-be free agent and former Clipper, according to a league source. And if George opts to become a free agent, don’t rule out Philly going after him.”
Philadelphia would obviously prefer to just sign PG to a max, and retain their picks. But if the former Pacer, Thunder, and current Clipper opts in, the idea of expending precious draft assets to acquire him, all before committing a max salary extension to the 34-year-old would be the instance The Athletic’s Shams Charania talked about on Friday, where the 76ers’ interest has really cooled off.
My guess is Morey, Elton Brand and Co. would still be over the moon if the type of proposal Pompey lays out (no. 16 and Tobias Harris via sign-and-trade, lol) were available to them.
The problem is first George would have to be amendable to coming to the Sixers (news from Briain Windhorst he’s likely to opt in indicates he most likely isn’t keen to) and Los Angeles would also have to prefer a Philly package to likely better offers from rivals.
Beware of the CAA Knicks
You’ve heard of the Nova Knicks. But there’s also the CAA Knicks.
PG has at times been connected to the Knicks simply because he is repped by CAA, and the former top agent for that company happens to be the current Knicks President, Leon Rose.
That’s a scenario I worried about from the Sixers’ POV back in early May since PG shares an agent in Aaron Mintz with Jalen Brunson. Jake Fischer, for Yahoo Sports, at the end of May reported that perhaps LeBron James as well as multiple players could be concerned with Joel Embiid’s future playoff availability too making Morey’s job here more challenging. Brunson doesn’t carry quite the same concerns, even if Embiid is the better player when healthy.
Heck, the Knicks could even look to pay OG Anunoby, and still acquire PG via trade by offloading a few of Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson (recently rumored to be in trade offers already), Bojan Bogdanovic, and perhaps (I’m speculating) Deuce McBride.
Per Marc Stein:
“Another trusted source has advised me to keep the Knicks on the list as a potential trade suitor for George if the All-NBA swingman indeed opts into the final season of his current contract at 48.8M. That would position George to push for a trade to another team.”
OG Anunoby
Per Pompey:
“OG Anunoby’s situation with the New York Knicks is something to pay close attention to as well. The Knicks unrestricted free agent reportedly isn’t happy with what the team is offering him to stay. Could the Sixers entice him with a maximum-salary contract and a larger offensive role than he has in New York?”
Per Stein:
“The Knicks, despite some recent murmurs about Anunoby considering his options elsewhere, have been painted as a strong favorite to re-sign the former Toronto Raptor since acquiring him in late December.”
So the Knicks, the team who eliminated a banged-up Joel Embiid-led Sixers group in round one, continue to be a large pain in the neck here for Philly.
The Knicks may be waiting to see if a team like the Sixers or Orlando Magic (the 2023-2024 playoff teams with the most cap space available next month) forces their hand in paying OG a max. If the Sixers cannot land PG, they may try to do just that and at least force Rose to pony up a max for the former Hoosier.
Pompey says the Sixers have three top FA options. Most likely he’s referring to LeBron, PG and OG. LeBron, it appears, is most likely staying with the Lakers. But if PG and OG are also two of the Sixers’ top free-agent targets, Morey will certainly hope he can get at least one.
Because if he can’t…
Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram
Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler and Pelicans’ former All-Star Brandon Ingram as trade targets could be the next on their list.
Per Pompey:
“They could also try to trade for Miami Heat six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler or New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. The return of former Sixers forward Jimmy Butler, now with Miami, isn’t out of the question as a player the Sixers could pursue in a trade deal.”
And Stein echoes the sentiment — adding that BI being on the trade block is a safer bet than Butler being available.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
And going further down the list, I suppose….
Per Pompey:
“Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be an affordable role-playing option the Sixers would like if the shooting guard opts out of a $15.4 million deal with the Denver Nuggets. However, the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls are also expected to go after the two-time NBA champion.”
And Stein talked about this idea as well.
“Sources say Philadelphia and Orlando are weighing runs at Caldwell-Pope with their cap space, if, as increasingly expected, he declines his $15.4 million player option with the Nuggets to enter free agency and field richer offers.”
Privately, on Liberty Ballers’ chat circuits we’ve been wondering why the Sixers weren’t connected to KCP even more than they have been. But that appears to be changing as his name keeps coming up lately. Yahoo’s Jake Fischer named him as a fall-back plan in May. And recently ESPN’s Zach Lowe wondered about this idea of KCP to Philly as well.
I suppose if they indeed whiff on PG, OG, and others, if they can’t land a Jimmy or BI….the two-way offguard becomes more and more likely of a salary-cap acquisition. If I were KCP’s Klutch Sports agent, Rich Paul, I’d certainly tell KCP to wait and see if Philly whiffs on PG and OG before taking any low-ball extension offers from Denver.
Same may go for this next dude….
Klay Thompson
Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images
Per Pompey:
“The Sixers could also gamble on Klay Thompson, who will be an unrestricted free agent. The five-time All-Star shooting guard is coming off a five-year, $189.9 million deal with the Golden State Warriors.
Thompson reportedly wants at least a three-year contract. But that could be a tough sell for a 34-year-old, who lost his starting spot late in the season and is two years removed from knee and Achilles tendon injuries.”
Klay, now 34 years old, will turn 35 in February. The four-time champ can’t move as well as he used to, but maybe he’d make a solid fallback option if everything else begins to fall apart.
So plenty to unpack. But here’s what you can be pretty sure of: Tyrese Maxey is almost certainly going to get a $205M max extension at some point this summer.
If the Sixers have their way, it’ll be well after they sign a star like PG to a max deal — despite recent Shams’ reports hinting at the contrary
I think despite recent reports, the Sixers’ Plan A is still to sign one of LeBron James, Paul George or OG Anunoby. Of the three, George seems the most likely to change teams.
If they can’t lure one of those three with a max, they’ll likely look at the price tags on trade candidates Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram.
If PG opts in, as Pompey hints, they may look to land him via sign-and-trade or simply acquire him and then extend mid-season— for even more money in total than they can pay him July 1. In that instance, at least the Clippers get something, and PG will make even more money in total.
But yeah, beware of the Knicks going all in this summer, cashing in some of their future draft picks haul, and acquiring two of the current Sixers’ top targets.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series isKentucky’s Justin Edwards.
Justin Edwards was named Pennsylvania’s Mr. Basketball in 2023 after leading Imhotep to a second straight state championship. The Philadelphia native, joined by Camden’s D.J. Wagner, was part of yet another impressive recruiting class for Kentucky. Though Edwards was one of the top recruits in the country, he had an inconsistent lone season with the Wildcats.
Edwards has legitimate NBA wing size at 6-foot-6 and a 6-10 wingspan. His lefty stroke is smooth. He has a quick and high release with the ability to shoot over defenders. After a slow shooting start, he hit over 46% from deep over his last 18 games (albeit on just 2.6 attempts a game). Though he didn’t test great at the combine, he looks athletic on the court. He showed legitimate slashing ability and good touch around the rim. He also displays decent instincts as a cutter and off-ball mover.
He showed flashes as an off-ball defender, getting into passing lanes and racking up deflections. His point-of-attack defense looked good in certain matchups, using his length well to bother smaller opponents.
Weaknesses
For such a high recruit, there was a lot of inconsistency from Edwards. It’s fair to wonder if it was a product of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham — both projected to go high in the first round — outshining him or a bigger issue. Either way, he got lost in the shuffle a lot last season. He’s very left-hand dominant on drives and there wasn’t much as far as playmaking for others.
Defensively is where you wonder if that lack of elite athleticism will show up. While he did have moments as an on-ball defender, he did look stiff against shiftier players. It’s something that could potentially improve, but he’ll have to work at it.
Positional Fit
Edwards is clearly a wing. What type of wing remains to be seen. His shooting stroke should allow him to stick in the NBA. How he develops the rest of his game — ball handling, playmaking, defense — will determine his role at the next level.
Draft Projection
Second round
This does sort of feel like the type of player Daryl Morey would draft. His draft record suggests he won’t take players because of positional fit or whether they can help right away. He’s going to take the best player available, likely with the highest upside. Edwards is a guy you can talk yourself into because big wings that can shoot will likely never go out of style in the NBA.
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