As the Philadelphia 76ers’ free agency period edges closer, let’s break down the best free agents in the Pacific Division.
Free agency kicks off on July 1, with LeBron James and Paul George headlining a talented group of available players. The Philadelphia 76ers, while not favorites, will almost certainly be pushing for the chance to sign star-caliber pieces. A Kawhi Leonard trade remains firmly on the table, to boot.
As that day edges closer, we’ll be breaking down the best available free agents in every division across the league. Let’s dive into the Pacific Division, where Golden State reigns supreme and the Lakers are trying to catch up.
No. 5: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Los Angeles Lakers
The 2017-18 campaign was an interesting one for Caldwell-Pope, who at one point wasn’t allowed out of the state due to legal issues. Coming off a one-year deal in L.A., he’ll now take another crack at the open market.
Strengths
At 25 years old, Caldwell-Pope still has plenty of room to grow as a player. He is far from perfect, but still has value as a wing who can score in bunches and defend. In his lone season with the Lakers, the former UGA attendee shot a career-high 38.5 percent on 5.6 three-point attempts per game.
While not an advanced playmaker, Caldwell-Pope can score off the bounce at all three levels. He’s also a proficient spot-up threat, boasting smooth mechanics and the ability to hit tough shots in tight spaces. In the right system, he should keep his three-point percentages above the league average mark.
At 6-foot-5, Caldwell-Pope can defend both guard spots. He has quick hands as well, averaging 1.4 steals per game last season. In a wing-driven league, Caldwell-Pope cracks this list for obvious reasons.
Weaknesses
At this point, Caldwell-Pope’s biggest concern is his approach to the game. He can take bad shots and doesn’t always play within the system, something that might turn off certain teams. That’s the primary reason for his poor efficiency over the years.
Fit
If the Sixers strike out on LeBron, they’ll likely look for short-term contracts to hold them over until next summer. Caldwell-Pope might be looking for long-term money, but another sizable one-year contract could be enough to change his mind.
The Sixers would need to get Caldwell-Pope to buy into their system, but another plus shooter who can create off the bounce obviously has value. He’s another solid perimeter defender next to Ben Simmons and Robert Covington as well.
No. 4: Avery Bradley, Los Angeles Clippers
After an up-and-down season with Detroit and Los Angeles, Bradley almost feels like a buy-low candidate. His value has dropped significant over recent months, giving the Sixers an opportunity to work their way into the conversation if LeBron goes elsewhere.
Strengths
If anything, Bradley is a capable three-point shooter who defends the perimeter at a high level. When healthy he’s one of the better one-on-one defenders in the league, boasting the length and aggressiveness needed to defend either guard spot.
He shot 36.9 percent from deep last season, but that percentage might rise in a different situation. Spending most of the season with Detroit, he was forced into a high-usage role that didn’t necessarily play to his strengths.
As somebody who’s best working off the ball and in a complimentary role, he makes a lot of sense for a team like, say, the Sixers.
Weaknesses
At 6-foot-2, Bradley is undersized for his position. That limits his defensive versatility, regardless of how effective he is on that side of the ball. He’s also coming off his most inefficient season since 2012-13, shooting just 41.4 percent from the field.
Fit
Bradley would be one of the better fits on the market in Philadelphia. He’s another spot-up shooter who can handle the ball in spurts, thriving in dribble hand-offs and hitting jumpers in tight spaces. He’d fit nicely in Brett Brown’s motion-heavy system.
He’s also an elite defender at the point of attack, something the Sixers lacked in the playoffs. The versatility of Simmons and Covington — not to mentioned Joel Embiid‘s rim protection — would help make up for his limited size.
If the Sixers can turn Bradley’s rough 2017-18 season into another one-year flier, a la J.J. Redick, that could turn into a wise investment for a team looking to compete next season.
No. 3: Isaiah Thomas, Los Angeles Lakers
Thomas wasn’t himself last season. The Cleveland situation was problematic and he was clearly affected by a nagging hip injury that inevitably led to season-ending surgery. In a league that preaches versatility, there are also questions about how effective a 5-foot-9 guard can be.
Strengths
Divisive is a good way to characterize Thomas’ status as a free agent. Some point to his defensive woes and reported locker-room issues as total non-starters, while others simply reflect on his 2016-17 campaign in Boston — the one that saw him finish top-five in MVP voting.
If Thomas can return to full health, his offensive prowess should draw interest from several teams. He can put up points in bunches, combining shifty ball-handling with a dynamic pull-up jumper. His ability to finish over length is impressive for somebody his size.
During his final year in Boston, Thomas averaged 28.9 points per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field, including 37.9 percent from deep on 8.5 attempts per game. At the absolute worst, he’s a sixth man who can fill it up.
Weaknesses
Thomas is as bad as they come on the defensive end. He’s 5-foot-9 — there just isn’t much good he can do on that side of the ball. Regardless of how much effort he puts in, most players can shoot over him with ease.
Last season especially, Thomas’ shot selection was highly questionable. He put up a lot of points in Boston by carrying the mantle of go-to scorer, but that won’t be his role next season. He’ll need to prove that he can play within a system offensively.
Fit
The Sixers need more ball-handling and playmaking behind Ben Simmons. Thomas, a defensive liability whose confidence seems to outweigh his actual abilities, probably isn’t the right solution. The former All-Star could be an absolute steal in the right situation, though.
No. 2: Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers
Last season was a breakout year for Randle, averaging 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He now hits the market as a restricted free agent, likely to obtain a large contract in the coming week(s).
Strengths
Randle is at his best with four shooters around him, whether that be at power forward or center. His versatility is a nice fit on the modern NBA, as he can push the ball in transition and create for others at a decent clip.
Having a high-end rebounder who can handle the ball and playmake, especially on the fastbreak, is supremely valuable — especially in an up-tempo system. Randle can also create his own offense, using his strong frame and advanced footwork to carve out space and score in the paint.
His shooting is still a weaknesses, but he is a 25.7 percent career three-point shooter. There’s room for growth in that respect.
On the defensive end, his ability to switch around the floor is another valuable trait. He’s the kind of small-ball big teams value nowadays.
Weaknesses
Aside from shooting, which is something Randle can still improve, his primary weakness is shot selection. He made massive strides as a playmaker and complimentary piece last season, but he still has moments where he forces shots in traffic.
He isn’t much of a rim protector either, which could push some teams away. Randle is at his best playing center, which, at 6-foot-9, doesn’t fit with every team’s game plan. That can change with floor-spacing fives, though. He fit nicely with Brook Lopez last season.
He also averaged the same number of turnovers as assists last season.
Fit
Randle doesn’t really have a spot in Philly. The Sixers need a backup center, but Randle costs too much. His fit next to Joel Embiid isn’t great either, especially when you factor Ben Simmons into the equation. There just isn’t enough spacing for it to make sense on paper.
No. 1: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
Durant is coming off back-to-back Finals MVP awards, establishing himself as one of the three best players on the planet. His combination of size, length and fluidity as a scorer is unmatched, allowing him to maneuver around slower defenders and shoot over smaller ones. He’s becoming a high-end defender as well.
Strengths
At this point, Durant is the most potent individual scorer in the NBA. His high release point makes it virtually impossible to contest his jumper, while his range extends well beyond the three-point line, both spotting up and off the dribble. For a 7-footer, that’s borderline unfair.
With Golden State, Durant has also shown growth as a playmaker. He had moments last season where tunnel vision got the best of him, but the ability to make high-level passes is there. When he’s engaged, he’s dangerous both as a scorer and a playmaker in the Warriors’ high-octane system.
His length and mobility make him an ultra-versatile defender, allowing him to switch around the perimeter and protect the weak side as a rim protector. Despite his lack of core strength, he’s one of the few players who can legitimately spend time on all five positions.
That, combined with the fact that he’s the league’s best individual scorer, makes him the most valuable commodity on the open market.
Weaknesses
Durant doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses. Again, he did get some tunnel vision in last year’s playoffs, but even Durant playing heavy iso-ball works more often than it doesn’t.
Fit
I would say the Sixers have a zero percent chance of signing Durant, but that might be too high. Even if LeBron is trying to team up with KD, the odds of that happening in Philly are nonexistent. He’s almost certainly re-signing with Golden State anyway.
With that said, Durant would obviously elevate the Sixers to championship-contending status. His combination of shot-making, auxiliary playmaking and defensive versatility would add another dynamic to the Sixers’ rotation.
Next: Top 5 free agents in the Atlantic Division
Simply put, the Sixers would be favorites in the Eastern Conference.