Sixers: Top 5 free agents in the Southwest Division
Could the Philadelphia 76ers be eyeing free agents from the Southwest Division?
Free agency starts *checks watch* at midnight, meaning the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up to make some moves. LeBron James and Paul George headline the class, but there are plenty of talented players set to hit the open market.
As we get closer to the commencement of July, let’s continue our breakdown of the best free agents in every NBA division. The Southwest in particular has some star power at the top, with the Rockets looking to retain key pieces and the Pelicans potentially losing one of their Twin Towers.
No. 5: Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets
Ariza played an underrated role in the Rockets’ ascension last season. His glue guy traits — shooting, ball movement, defense — were invaluable as a complimentary piece next to CP3 and James Harden.
Strengths
On the offensive end, Ariza bought into the Rockets’ offensive system with conviction. He shot a ton of threes (6.9 per game), and made them at a respectable 36.9 percent clip. He also attacked closeouts, got to the rim, and kept the ball moving with smart, unselfish passing.
While not an elite creator, Ariza profiles as an excellent secondary piece in any system. He thrives off the ball, whether it be spacing the floor or running through screens and making cuts to the rim. You can’t devise a system he doesn’t have a place in.
He’s also a high-end defender on the wing, an archetype that’s becoming increasingly valuable in the modern NBA. At 6-foot-8, he can switch around the perimeter and defend three positions effectively. He also averaged 1.5 steals per game, showing quick hands and forcing turnovers.
His nickname, per Basketball Reference, is Switchblade. He’s made for 2018 basketball.
Weaknesses
This isn’t necessarily a weakness, but it’s comical how extreme the correlation is between Ariza’s shot chart and Mike D’Antoni‘s system. Only 0.08 percent of his field goal attempts came between 10-16 feet from the rim.
On a more serious note, his lose handles limit his effectiveness off the bounce. Outside of attacking closeouts and driving the lane, he isn’t reliable creating for himself or others. He’s a ball-mover more than a playmaker, which is fine. Just a limitation.
Fit
If the Sixers strike out on big-name free agents, Ariza should very much be on their list. He’d be another quality defender on the perimeter, giving them more switch-friendly bodies around Joel Embiid.
He’s also an excellent spot-up shooter who the ball rarely sticks to, making him an ideal fit with Brett Brown’s pace, space and pass philosophy.