Philadelphia 76ers shooting specialists just didn’t cut it last year. There’s no doubt the Sixers will bring in new faces to surround Ben Simmons with.
Shooting specialists like Nik Stauskas and Isaiah Canaan just didn’t cut it for the Philadelphia Sixers in the 2015-2016 season, and there’s no doubt they will be looking to bring in some new faces to help improve in that area.
The 76ers’ 3-point shooting statistics were dreadful this past season. Despite shooting the 8th most 3-pointers in the NBA in the regular season, Philadelphia found itself much farther down the rankings when it came to their three point percentage. The Sixers ended the year at number 24 in said category and really hurt themselves offensively by failing to efficiently stretch the floor.
The Sixers reportedly told LSU’s Ben Simmons he will be their choice in a few days at the 2016 NBA Draft, and it is well known that his biggest deficiency is shooting. So, how exactly can the Sixers manage to improve their team’s three point percentages if their new franchise pillar can’t hit beyond 15 feet? And what if they manage to land Kris Dunn? He’s also inconsistent from beyond.
Have no fear Sixers fans. Free agency will provide the Sixers ample opportunity to bring in players that can stroke it from deep and fit well alongside guys like Simmons and Joel Embiid. The Sixers are set to have upwards of $45-50 million in cap space at the start of the free agency period and there are several very good shooters on the open market this summer. Some are young up and comers, and others are savvy veterans that could help their young core grow.
Bryan Colangelo is a smart guy. He knows you need at least 2-3 if not 4 guys in your starting lineup that can hit the three in today’s NBA. He also knows that (sans an undecided Dario Saric), Robert Covington is the only player on the team with a reliable shot that can also play legitimate NBA minutes. So what are some names he should target in free agency?
Next: Evan Fournier