The Philadelphia 76ers Should Pursue Veterans — On Short Term Deals

The Philadelphia 76ers will be looking to improve this offseason, but they need to keep long term financial flexibility in mind.

This offseason is perhaps the most pivotal one yet for The Process. With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons likely to be joined by this year’s third overall selection, the pieces are in place for the Philadelphia 76ers to finally start building around their core. And, with Bryan Colangelo in charge, that could mean chasing veterans in free agency.

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We got a sample of Colangelo’s desires last offseason, as he threw out short, financially savvy deals for stopgap vets who filled a rotational need. Gerald Henderson was the starting two-guard for half the season before spending the other half giving Brett Brown a much-needed spark off the bench. Sergio Rodriguez began the season as the starting point guard as well, while Jerryd Bayless — despite playing just three games due to injury — still projects as an affordable Simmons compliment for the next two seasons.

Henderson and Rodriguez may (likely) be gone next season, while Bayless’ contract measures out at just $9 million per year. Philadelphia is far from financially strained as it currently stands.

Where problems could emerge, though, are when they delve into the upper echelons of the free agency market — something they are reportedly considering. Kyle Lowry rumors made an early appearance, while names like George Hill and J.J. Redick — all three of whom, to varying extents, could warrant large contracts — have also been connected to the team.

The Sixers are set to have plenty of cap space to throw around this summer, as they’re projected to have upwards of $41 million on tap, according to Keith P. Smith. The potential for problems doesn’t stem from this year, though — it’s future years that matter, and future years that Bryan Colangelo has to keep in mind when dealing out contracts this summer.

Joel Embiid will be up for an extension next summer, where he’ll likely be able to command a max deal (assuming health). Ben Simmons’ deal then expires two summers later, as does Dario Saric‘s. That’s, at a minimum, two cornerstones whose contracts expire in the next three seasons. Tying down a large chunk of cash — perhaps $152 million over four years — to a veteran like Kyle Lowry could make re-signing those players and retaining a functional supporting cast extremely difficult.

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There’s no denying the on-court benefits of chasing free agents of a higher status. Kyle Lowry would give the Sixers an All-Star caliber point guard, filling a gaping void that has plagued Brett Brown during the Process era. He’d provide a consistent 20-point threat on the perimeter, while giving Philadelphia somebody capable of both creating his own shot and working off of Simmons as a spot-up threat.

But he’s also 31.

George Hill is much of the same on a smaller, less extravagant scale. He’s a skilled off-ball scorer with the pick-and-roll prowess needed to generate offense at a high level himself, taking some of that burden off of Simmons when necessary. He’d also be a better defender than Lowry, a bonus in Brown’s defensively-focused rotation.

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He’s also 31.

Redick is different in regards to his role, but similar in regards to his age. He’d give the Sixers somebody who can handle in spurts, but excels most off the ball, gunning around screens and finding open looks on the perimeter — where Simmons would be able to find him on a consistent basis.

He, though, is 32.

As free agents of that ilk enter the final years of their primes, they’re likely to chase the most lucrative deal possible. With rising cap space, that aforementioned trio has never had an opportunity of this magnitude when cashing in on new deals. Hill and Redick have never been max players, yet may get deals in that range in the coming months. They’ll also want as many years as possible.

Philadelphia, however, needs to utilize whatever leverage possible to avoid the latter portion when giving out contracts. Dishing out a four year deal to Lowry makes retaining Simmons and Saric far more difficult down the road, while his final year of production — a year where he’d make $41 million — would be at the age of 36. Lowry, as well as others on that timeline, is bound to decline with age.

It’s a slippery slope, and one Colangelo must avoid when constucting a roster that, in it’s current state, has the potential to compete in the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future. With the LeBron James magic in finite supply down the road, Colangelo should seek to avoid cutting the Sixers’ timeline short. Poor judgement calls could do just that.

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Getting Lowry to agree to a sub-four year deal may be difficult, and that’s absolutely fine — Philadelphia doesn’t have to pursue him, and arguably shouldn’t. Hill and Redick are more feasible, but even they may be difficult to persuade depending on the temperature of the market. A two-year max for either of  them is fine — a four-year deal is too extensive, even with the help that both of them provide rotationally.

This offseason is about building around the core, not on top of it.