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Outside of their main stars, the only certain thing about the future of the Philadelphia 76ers roster is uncertainty.
General manager Daryl Morey drove home that point Monday in his season-ending news conference following a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks. He promised “a lot of changes” to the roster around stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. He also singled out bench players Paul Reed and Ricky Council IV, who have non-guaranteed contracts, as players who “will be back next year”“.
Aside from those players and head coach Nick Nurse, Morey appears poised for a dramatic overhaul as he looks to build a championship contender around Embiid and Maxey.
“We are not going to have continuity” Morey told reporters. “We will have continuity with our stars and our head coach, but we are going to have a lot of changes this season. …
“We’re focused on Joel and Tyrese, and we’re focused on the now.”
Who will stay and who will go?
Morey’s statements confirm what was widely expected in Philadelphia: plans for a roster overhaul that leaves the status of starters and rotation players Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry, Nicolas Batum and Buddy Hield in doubt. None of them have a contract beyond the season that just ended.
Embiid is approaching the second season of a four-year, $213 million contract. Maxey will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of his four-year, $12 million rookie contract. The 76ers can match any competing offer and are He is expected to sign him to a max extension. this summer after his great campaign in which he earned his first All-Star bid and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
76ers have cap flexibility to maneuver
That leaves the 76ers with a lot of flexibility to renew their roster. By SpotracThe 76ers project to have more than $55 million in available cap space this summer, the second-highest projection in the league behind the Detroit Pistons.
Aside from expanding Maxey, how will you spend your money? According to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, Morey said the team would prioritize a wing “who can play and perform at a high level in the playoffs,” a message that could reasonably be interpreted as directed at Harris.
Harris just wrapped up a five-year, $180 million deal he signed with the 76ers after arriving via a midseason trade from the Clippers in 2019. He averaged nine points per game this postseason while shooting 43.1 % from the field and 33.3% from 3-point distance. . He was held scoreless in Philadelphia’s Game 6 elimination loss to the Knicks while attempting just two field goals.
Which free agents will the 76ers target?
Meanwhile, there is potential to secure a premium wing on the free agent market this summer. Paul George has a player option on his contract with the Clippers and would be a free agent if he opts out.
Two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam previously played for Nurse in Toronto and is scheduled to become a free agent. But the Pacers acquired his Bird Rights when they traded for Siakam, which will allow them to go over the salary cap with a long-term offer. He is He is expected to remain with the Pacers. if they make such an offer.
Another former Raptor, OG Anunoby, has a player option for next season with the Knicks. If he opts out and doesn’t come to terms with New York on an extension, would he consider jumping ship to join the division rival Sixers and his former coach?
Then there’s LeBron James, the biggest wild card of the offseason. He also has a player option and has not committed to returning to the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems like a long shot for the 76ers, but they’re looking to make a big splash. This would qualify.
Regardless of what decisions the 76ers make this summer, the pressure is on. Embiid is 30 years old and won’t be in his prime forever. Maxey is coming into his own and showed in the postseason that he is ready for his star turn against a contender. The window for Philadelphia is now, and it’s up to Morey to maximize it this offseason.
