If you’re not excited about the Paul George signing because of concerns about how the contract will look a few years down the road, or just because the Philadelphia 76ers have hurt you too many times in the past, let me illustrate how much worse things could be.
Your franchise could owe $65 million to someone not to coach the team.
The team could have won no more than 23 games in any of the past five seasons, but picked no higher than fifth overall in any of the past three drafts.
Your team could have just signed Tobias Harris for two years, $52 million.
Sorry, Detroit Pistons fans.
Tobias Harris has agreed to a two-year, $52 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN.
Of note, the second year is fully guaranteed with no option.
Can confirm the Pistons and Tobias Harris have agreed on a two-year, $52 million deal. @wojespn first.
Sources tell The Athletic that there are no options.
Detroit gets shooting and, again, availability. With $24-ish million in cap space left.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) July 1, 2024
For a long time, Tobias Harris ending up in Detroit was a running joke here at Liberty Ballers and seemed set in stone. But when the franchise parted ways with general manager Troy Weaver at the end of May and hired Trajan Langdon, I really thought that ship sailed. Now, the thinking was, they would assuredly be wiser with the cap space. Langdon even said the right things about using it to take on unwanted contracts to acquire assets. The trade to bring in Tim Hardaway Jr. from Dallas in exchange for three second-round picks seemed like a step in that direction, although if you are high on Quentin Grimes you still may not have liked the trade. Unfortunately for Pistons fans, the Harris connection to Detroit, where he previously played parts of three seasons, remained too strong.
I mean, who was really bidding against Detroit here for Tobias that could offer $26 million per year? Utah’s Danny Ainge is too smart for something like this. At the very least, how do you not make the second year a team option so it could be viewed as essentially a potentially useful, large expiring contract at the trade deadline, should you desire?
To look at the other side for a moment, Harris is a good locker room presence. I’m sure there’s some value in his teaching the young guys how a 401(k) works and starting a book club. He’s also durable, having played in at least 70 games in each of the last nine seasons (excepting the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season). He’ll probably average 18 per game with decent percentages and there will be some analytic showing Tobias is worth the money that Torrel Harris can use for his powerpoint presentation the next time a contract negotiation rolls around.
But as anyone who watched the Sixers in recent years knows, for every 25-point game Harris has, there will be a few where he’s just out there getting cardio (and not even hard cardio, but the sort of cardio where you’re interested in paying attention to the ball game that’s on the treadmill so you set it to 70 percent speed). Tobias may be able to teach the young guys some good lessons off the court, but he’s teaching them on the court that you can go five years without drawing a charge (officially) or grabbing a contested loose ball (unofficially, but I’m sure there weren’t many), and still get paid.
I hold no personal animosity towards Tobias Harris and I’m sure some of that money will generously go towards worthwhile charitable endeavors. But, I sure am glad to be out of the Tobias Harris business and I’m shocked that another franchise was this eager to sign up for it.
The Athletic’s Houston Rockets’ Insider, Kelly Iko, broke the scoop at the start of free agency. Philadelphia is in a holding pattern as they’re set to meet with Clippers’ unrestricted free agent Paul George. If they’re able to land PG on a $212M max, it would mean the belt starts to get very tight. So does that mean there simply isn’t enough money left over to retain the ideal role player? Are the Rockets swooping in to pay Batum more than the Sixers believe they’ll be able to afford?
Things are still a mystery because I think most Sixers fans expected the team to come to an agreement with Batum, who Joel Embiid specifically, has stated on numerous occasions he loves playing with.
Batum became almost indispensable the moment he joined the Sixers via the James Harden trade. The French native was perhaps the smartest player to ever play alongside Embiid. Batum’s ability to throw entry passes alone was invaluable, not to mention his three-point shooting, hyper versatile defense and ability to get his hands on tons of loose balls. He became a super glue guy for a team that desperately needed one.
We even got a Nico Batum Game in the Sixers’ first ever Play-In Game.
If there was one person who surely pushed for the team to re-sign Batum, it was Embiid. The two had lockers next to each other and there appeared to be an instant bond. Remember, Embiid is fluent in French and also possesses French citizenship.
While Batum was speaking with reporters after the team’s Game 6 loss, Embiid made sure to let the 35-year-old he had to come back for the 2024-25 season. There was some speculation though that Batum could retire after his run with the French national team at the Paris Olympics this summer.
It appears — despite Philly’s best efforts — Batum felt it was the right time to walk away or simply saw a better opportunity elsewhere.
“I could feel the passion of this city for sports, for the Sixers, and I fit right away,” Batum said after the Sixers’ final game. “Those fans … when you get booed, I said, ‘OK, get right. It’s tough right now, so you’ve got to play better.’ Like I said, this city’s not for everybody. They’re happy, I think. I tried my best. … It was fun. I’m sorry, guys, that we couldn’t have a better playoff run. You guys showed up and that was amazing tonight. The support was great.”
The Sixers will have serious work to do to replace Batum’s production on the court — with a player they hope Embiid will be equally as happy to have on board. If the Sixers whiff on George, there would have been ample spend to retain Batum. So maybe this is a sign that something big is about to happen. Or maybe another team was just quick enough to sneak in before Nico was willing to wait on Philadelphia’s potential offer.
The first domino to fall once 2024 NBA free agency officially opened was that the Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson will be going their separate ways.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the two sides will be working towards a sign-and-trade.
Minutes later, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski named the Sixers as one of four teams that are planning on having discussions with Thompson to facilitate that trade.
Klay Thompson plans to have discussions with the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers and 76ers in the opening hours of free agency, sources tell ESPN.
Given who’s reporting this, it’s certainly notable that the Sixers were one of the team’s mentioned to be interested in Thompson’s services. At the same time, with Paul George’s decision reportedly set to dictate the market, and the Sixers still being strong suitors, it’s hard to see Philadelphia making this trade before George has made a decision.
But the Sixers’ having nearly $60 million available in cap space will likely have them named in just about every high stakes negotiation until they begin to spend some of that money.
If the plan is to sign George and also work out a sign-and-trade for Thompson, it could take some serious cap gymnastics from Daryl Morey. Still, adding a shooter like Thompson — along with a shooter like George — to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey is intriguing.
As various dominoes have fallen in recent weeks, the clearest path for the Philadelphia 76ers to improve this offseason appears to be signing Paul George. That possibility came closer to reality yesterday when George officially declined his player option with the Los Angeles Clippers and became an unrestricted free agent. The Sixers were absolutely in the mix with George reported to be taking meetings with Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Orlando. Now, the flames on the hot stove are rising even further with this reporting from NBA Insider Chris Haynes.
B/R Sources: There’s growing optimism the Philadelphia 76ers will land Paul George in free agency.
Haynes’ sourcing is generally pretty rock solid, so we can put more stock in this report than the usual musings to come across the timeline.
While people may be worried about paying max money to a 37-year-old George in four years, it’s hard to make an argument that there’s a better way to make the team better in the present. Slotting George in as a third option, 3-and-D wing between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey would be a dream fit. With Embiid now 30 years old and the injuries continue to pile up, taking a win-now mentality makes all the sense in the world. Cap space in 2027-28 is Future Daryl Morey’s problem, and at the very least, George’s high volume, three-point shooting will age well.
We’ll see what happens in the coming hours/days as free agency officially opens. Undoubtedly, an Embiid-Maxey-George big three would be an exciting start to the roster heading into next season. Make it happen, Daryl.
Well, it appears the Sixers’ Plan A is still intact.
Paul George has reportedly opted out of his contract with the LA Clippers, making him an unrestricted free agent when the bell rings Sunday evening. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.
BREAKING: Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George is declining his $48.7M option and entering free agency, sources tell ESPN. He’s planning to set meetings with cap space teams and the Clippers beginning Sunday night. An opt-in/trade scenario is now gone. pic.twitter.com/kASDp58eDD
Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes adds that the Sixers will be a “legitimate threat” to sign George.
Philadelphia 76ers are expected to aggressively pursue Paul George and is a legitimate threat in luring the star away from Los Angeles, sources say. https://t.co/c3JYzn335H
The best-case scenario for the Sixers was George declining his $48.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Now the team has the chance to woo the six-time All-NBA pick in free agency and offer him a four-year, $212 million max deal — one the Clippers have been reportedly unwilling to offer.
George could’ve opted into his current deal and potentially been traded to the Warriors, who were reportedly ready to offer him a max contract. As we learned with the James Harden saga last year, these types of situations can linger. It’s also fair to note that LA could’ve played hardball here, not wanting to help Golden State in their quest to get Steph Curry another ring (anyone who still has PTSD from the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade should get that).
So, what now?
Expect the Sixers to roll out the red carpet for George when free agency begins at 6 p.m. Sunday night. Geography is not the Sixers’ friend here as all indications are that the nine-time All-Star wing has a strong desire to stay on the West Coast with his family. It will be up to the team to convince the Palmdale native that moving across the country to partner with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey is the right move.
So, what happens if they whiff on PG-13?
Well, Brandon Ingram is still a Pelican even after New Orleans dealt for Hawks’ guard Dejounte Murray Friday night. While it still feels like a long shot, there’s a chance the Jazz could trade All-Star Lauri Markkanen — and the Sixers would be well positioned to give Utah its best offer. In free agency, they could pivot to elite role players, like Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Free agency begins at 6 p.m. Sunday when teams are free to negotiate with free agents. We’ll see what Daryl Morey has up his sleeve.
Kicking off a crucial offseason, Philadelphia stayed pat in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, using the 16th pick on Duke sharpshooter Jared McCain. The combo guard at Duke became known for his 40% three-point percentage, the TikToks he posts, his painted fingernails, and the shared journey he’s gone on with his brother.
Only minutes after his selection, McCain spoke to Sixers reporters for the first time. Spoiler alert: he mentioned cheesesteaks in his first answer.
McCain, who comes with a reputation of being a hard worker, thinks coming to Philadelphia should be an easy transition after playing off a big man during his freshman year at Duke.
“Obviously playing through [Kyle Filipowski], I learned to create space for him and just be able to let him do his work and find gaps and find ways to get open,” he said. “So I think it’s a great transition for me.”
Not only does he believe the on-court transition will go well, but he thinks his experience as a Duke Blue Devil and the reputation that comes with that will help his transition as a Philadelphian as well.
“Obviously that comes with a lot of hate and a lot of scrutiny wherever you go,” he said, “but I think that’s preparing for where I’m at, especially with Philly, so I think I’m ready for it.”
He was already asked about his TikToks and fingernails, and isn’t worried about how people will perceive him in a hard-nosed city.
“Yeah, you know I do the social media, the nail painting, I do all that stuff, but basketball is my main focus and this has been my dream since I was 4 or 5 years old,” he said. “So I’m going to do whatever I can just to win and bring a positive attitude and just have fun, man. I’m joyful with life and I try to bring that everywhere I go.”
McCain credits his family for his positive personality. He repeatedly mentioned that whatever hate he may face, he’s going to fight it with positivity.
“It’s gotten me this far, so I won’t stop now,” he said. “And even if there’s a bunch of hate coming my way, I try to be as positive as possible and just continue to work and trust my work.”
He’s essentially seen the draft process as a journey he’s gone on with his brother. Jayce McCain had to stop playing basketball due to blood clots, and went to Duke to become a grad assistant to be at the same school as his brother, Jared.
“It was our dream to get drafted, and so we both did it,” he said.
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.
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.
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