Should the Philadelphia 76ers Target Patty Mills in Free Agency this Offseason?
It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers desperately need an upgrade at the point guard position, but could the answer come from down under?
The Philadelphia 76ers are approach an impasse this offseason at point guard. The team will have three players on under contract, but no real answer at the position. Jerryd Bayless will be 28 and coming off wrist surgery. T.J. McConnell will be under contract, but is a long way away from being a scoring threat, and Chasson Randle’s roster spot, and contract are far from guaranteed. Whether the team addressed the position in the draft or free agency it’s clear the teams point guard of the future simply isn’t on the current roster.
Ben Simmons presence puts the 76ers rotation in an interesting position. Many expect Simmons to act as the team’s primary ball handler on the offensive end going forward, but it’s unrealistic to expect a player who’s 6’10 to cover a shifty 5’10 point guard like Isiah Thomas.
Combo Guard
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To optimize the rotation’s offensive and defensive efficiency the team needs to invest in a combo guard this offseason who can cover point guards on the defensive side of the ball, and shoot effectively from the wing on offense. While there are a number of promising point guards at the top of the 2017 NBA draft, if the Sixers decide they want a veteran leader at the position they should consider Patty Mills.
Patty Mills is a shifty 28 year old combo guard who plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Standing a diminutive 6 foot tall, Mills is a playmaking point guard with a shoot first mentality, in the vain of Allen Iverson. Though he isn’t nearly the generational talent that AI was, he would bring a unique playing style that is currently absent from the 76ers roster. While he isn’t a lock down defender by any stretch of the imagination, he does bring athleticism that allows him to stay with any of the smaller, shiftier guards in the NBA. Mills is essentially the perfect foil to Ben Simmons; small, elusive, and a proven outside shooter.