The Philadelphia 76ers are in a strong position leading into the offseason. Here’s what I think would be the ideal offseason.
In my first piece for The Sixer Sense, I went over what I thought would be the ideal offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers. A lot has changed since then, and I mean a lot.
Draft Picks and Draft
Following the disappointing trade deadline, a lot of movement regarding draft picks happened. On top of already having the Los Angeles Lakers’ top-three protected draft pick and the Kings’ pick swap option, the 76ers acquired the Dallas Mavericks heavily protected first round pick which will most likely end up becoming two second-round picks. The 76ers also acquired the Miami Heat’s and Atlanta Hawk’s 2017 second-round picks as a part of the Ersan Ilyasova trade.
One stashed prospect that may find his way onto the 76ers roster is Anadolu Efes shooting guard, Furkan Korkmaz. The Turk was selected 26th in the 2016 draft, he could add further shooting and athleticism to the already young wing rotation.
3 Players To Look Out For
Markelle Fultz
Unless we luck out and get the first overall pick, it is unlikely that we get Markelle Fultz. Fultz is by far the number one player in this draft, and whoever lucks out at the lottery is getting a surefire franchise player. Despite his immense talent, Fultz has suffered with a lingering knee injury since February 9; the Sixers know all too much about young stars getting injuries.
Malik Monk
Malik Monk would be an ideal fit for when Ben Simmons returns. Monk is a lights out shooter who can also create his own shot. Monk can heat up real quick, and with Simmons’ playmaking, Monk will get more open shots. Also, Embiid will soon demand double teams whenever he touches the ball, leading to more open threes for Monk. Floor spacing is key!
Jonathan Isaac
If the 76ers drafted FSU’s, Jonathan Isaac, we could put out one of the biggest lineups in the league. Isaac’s versatility is unreal, he is a good 3-point shooter (36 percent), and a great rebounder (7.5 per game). That said, he is very skinny, weighing only 210 pounds. We’ve seen Brandon Ingram struggle this year for having the same problem. Patience will be key if we draft Isaac.
Free Agency
Maximum Cap Space: $65,807,003 (per RealGM)
Jrue Holiday
The 76ers could offer Jrue Holiday a max contract this summer. Bringing him home to where it all started would be fitting and a sign that “The Process” is over. Holiday’s 3-point shot has improved a fair bit this year, making him an attractive option to the 76ers going forward. Again, floor spacing is crucial to our future success.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has improved drastically over the last few years, and have definitely earned the interest of many teams across the league. Teams like the Sixers and Nets could use a two-way guard, and certainly have more than enough money to sway the Pistons into not matching his contract.
Otto Porter
One of the breakout stars of the season, Porter has emerged has a legit 3-point threat, shooting a league best 45 percent from downtown. Originally considered a bust after being drafted third in 2013, its fair to say that he’s squashed that label. The forward will provide better shooting than KCP, but his defense isn’t as solid.
Holiday would be a nice, but not necessary, acquisition, if Simmons does indeed play point guard. However, signing Porter or KCP would be a massive get for the Sixers, and one that would help them down the line. We have the tools to get it done, so why shouldn’t we?