Colangelo free agent patterns
With these Philadelphia 76ers flirting with a top-4-seed in the NBA Playoffs, will Colangelo truly bring more young players to this team? The more I ponder that, the more I can convince myself that he won’t. Two years ago, Jerry Colangelo indicated that the Philadelphia 76ers were three years away from becoming “very competitive”. And explaining further, he stated “that means not just making the playoffs,” Just two years ago, that bar was set.
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When Bryan Colangelo first arrived to the Sixers, I did an indepth look as to his free agency tactics while leading the Toronto Raptors. Curiously, the same names that appear in the Raptors article now appear with the Philadelphia 76ers. Amir Johnson and Jerryd Bayless have both found their way onto two team rosters where Colangelo did the hiring.
Scary parallels
The patterns from the Toronto Raptors are already beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers. In both cases, Colangelo’s deals are done. If they work out, great. If they don’t, it’s cut at a deep discount and try to find the next deal yielding good upside. While some may scoff, the value committed by the team to get Trevor Booker, two players and a pick, only to waive the player in 10 weeks seems, unwise. While the deal was not a free agent signing, we have the Jerryd Bayless signing for three years which does fall into the “bad signing” category. In fact, of all free agents signed, only that of J.J. Redick, albeit for one year and $23 Million, has been a solid get for the team.
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As the Philadelphia 76ers grow into the team designed by the mad architect Sam Hinkie, the presence of players like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, Markelle Fultz, and even T.J. McConnell, limit the scope of players needed to compliment this young core. But will Colangelo be able to add the right pieces? So far, he has been more impressive on draft night than free agency. But his pattern appears to lean heavily into the free agency market. While J.J. Redick is a great fit, his contract may not be easily extended. The Philadelphia 76ers, thanks to the young talent already assembled, are heading to the playoffs this year. But that could change everything regarding the team’s approach to the NBA Draft going forward.