Tough to ignore castoffs
Finally, the players we signed must be considered by players not signed. When the team makes decisions on free agents to bring onto this roster, the roster slot must be vacated. Let’s examine who the team elected not to sign. Only two players unsigned in Philadelphia have signed elsewhere. There are: PG Ish Smith and SG Isaiah Canaan.
Right now, both players are giving persuasive performances to suggest to objective Philadelphia 76ers fans that they had more upside than the front office believed them to possess. Ish Smith has been a solid veteran at the point guard reserve spot for the Detroit Pistons. His lack of perimeter shooting leveraged his dismissal from the 76ers, but his cost, at $6 Million a year, feels like a healthy discount to the players signed by Philadelphia since.
Load the Canaan!
The Phoenix Suns signed Canaan with a hardship exception clause (Philly could argue for an exception with their level of prolonged injuries), and he has lit up the court. In just four games, he is averaging 14.0 points per game, and shooting 42.9 percent from the perimeter. He is quite familiar to Philadelphia 76ers fans.
There is value in the NBA Draft, and value in the NBA Free Agency. Regardless of which direction the Philadelphia 76ers decided to travel, there is an expectation of beating the averages. With free agency, it consists of getting someone at less cost and getting above average production. Even if you disagree that the Philadelphia 76ers have underwhelmed via free agency, there is enough room to question just how well the team is doing as they pursue free agents going forward. We’ve suggested that the team is losing draft picks amassed by former executive Sam Hinkie. I now assert that the salary cap margin this team once enjoyed has plenty of questions attached to how effectively it has been spent as well in the free agent market.
Next: Dario Saric questions the Sixers’ toughness
Is Amir Johnson producing at an $11 Million / year clip? Is Jerryd Bayless producing at a $9 Million / year clip? And is even J.J. Redick producing at a $23 Million / year clip? I don’t know. But if they are not, that falls upon the President/GM Bryan Colangelo. In the end money, like draft picks, comes in limited supplies.