In some circles, it’s not what you know, but who you know. In the NBA free agency, it’s not who you sign but how you sign. Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are doing very well.
They started by signing swing guard Jerryd Bayless to a three-year $27 Million dollar deal. Then they went overseas to sign Euroleague’s point guard Sergio Rodriguez to a one year $8 million deal. Finally, they’ve signed shooting guard Gerald Henderson to a two-year $18 Million deal.
In short, the Philadelphia 76ers are killing it folks.
We had calculated the NBA salary cap space for the Philadelphia 76ers three days ago. At that time, we had figured the team had $36,288,200 shy of the NBA floor for the 2016-2017 season.
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Now with the additional $17 Million added for the two most recent signings, plus another $2 Million estimated for Dario Saric‘s signing, still leaves the team $17,288,200 in available NBA salary cap just to make the floor.
UPDATE: The Philadelphia 76ers are currently rumored to have offered Real Madrid’s shooting guard Rudy Fernandez a 2 year $20 Million contract.
Source confirms Sixers are interested in signing Rudy Fernandez.
— Raúl Barrigón (@BarriHoopsHype) July 5, 2016
But immediately afterwards, reports denied such a contract was offered:
Not so fast: Source denies a report that the Sixers are in for another Euroleague star. https://t.co/ct8Q0iIyzk
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 5, 2016
The 76ers skill in free agency is not just getting free agents cheaply. It’s about getting veteran players on short duration contracts that will expire as the team’s young players enter their second and more lucrative contract period.
This was not an easy position to take. The rest of the NBA was offering huge dollar long multi-year deals to players, while the best the 76ers would do is up the money but cut the duration to a one or two year deal. With that option, most free agents kept right on walking past us.
But the Philadelphia did not “settle” for just anyone. They stuck to their board, keyed in on quality NBA veterans, and persisted. As Ike Reese prophetically stated:
I wonder if Gerald Henderson(SG) & Jerryd Bayless(PG) wouldn't mind playing here in Philly for 2 or 3yrs? #NBAFreeAgency
— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) July 1, 2016
With the exception of Sergio Rodriguez, he summed up the 76ers free agency efforts in one tweet. And it’s a sweet and rare strategy right now. So far, the 76ers continue to confirm that they realize the true potential of this team is the potential in the young players on the roster. That’s very reassuring.
With these contracts in place, the team can now turn towards developing their players to earn playing time, and potentially even a starting role. With veterans on board, it’s no longer on-job-training and the team can pace their rookies to play some minutes, and sit some minutes.
But with veterans in place, practices become infused with NBA experienced moments. Each drill becomes a learning experience. And with seasoned veterans entering the Philadelphia 76ers state of the art practice facility, the word will get around that this is a quality organization, down to the last brick.
This will be a good team, with a good bench. The Philadelphia 76ers will have difficulty paring down this year to the 15 man roster limit. Playing minutes will be tough to come by, as each player on this team will be a fan favorite to somebody.
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But that is the way with an improving NBA team. Average players are cut from good teams. Good players are cut from great teams. The Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to become a good team for now. With moves like these in free agency? They are on their way.