How might the Sixers trim down their roster?
The Philadelphia 76ers will need to make some cuts between now and the regular season.
As Summer League gets underway, the Philadelphia 76ers have the unenviable task of deciding who will make the opening day roster next season. With 16 players currently under contract and others in the mix, the Sixers must trim that number to 15 — plus some two-way contracts.
We already have a good feel for how the 2018-19 rotation is shaping up, but Brett Brown will need to make some key changes. Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova are no longer with the team, while Wilson Chandler, Nemanja Bjelica and Zhaire Smith figure to compete for those minutes.
Markelle Fultz will also play a significant role off the bench, potentially vying for Dario Saric‘s spot in the starting rotation if his shooting improvements are legit. The former No. 1 pick could go a long way in determining Philly’s overall success next season.
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So, that leaves us with one very simple question: How will the Sixers get their roster to 15 players? The offseason is still going on — signings, trades, etc. are all still possible — but let’s act as though the Sixers are done with major additions to the roster.
Here is who they currently have under contract: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Dario Saric, J.J. Redick, Robert Covington, Amir Johnson, Wilson Chandler, Nemanja Bjelica, T.J. McConnell, Zhaire Smith, Landry Shamet, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Furkan Korkmaz, Richaun Holmes, Justin Anderson, Jerryd Bayless (**Jonah Bolden, Shake Milton)
**I am operating under the assumption that Jonah Bolden will join the roster next season, bumping the number of players under contract to 17. Shake Milton, the Sixers’ second-round selection, will presumably be in the mix as well.
The Sixers, again, can have 15 players plus a pair of two-way contracts.
For the most part, the players listed above are expected to be on the main roster. We can almost fill out the 15-man roster with borderline certainties, barring any major trades.
- Joel Embiid
- Ben Simmons
- Dario Saric
- Robert Covington
- J.J. Redick
- Markelle Fultz
- Wilson Chandler
- Nemanja Bjelica
- Amir Johnson
- Zhaire Smith
- Landry Shamet
- Justin Anderson
- Furkan Korkmaz
- Jonah Bolden
That leaves one available roster spot and the following names: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, T.J. McConnell, Richaun Holmes, Jerryd Bayless and Shake Milton
Holmes’ contract is non-guaranteed and he struggled to find consistent playing time last season. With lackluster defense and multiple ill-advised tweets under his belt, there’s a solid chance that the former Bowling Green product is gone next season.
McConnell’s contract is also non-guaranteed, but it’s difficult to envision the Sixers parting with one of the process’ most beloved players. McConnell was the Sixers’ starting point guard in the 2016-17 season and played a big role in their only playoff win against Boston.
His defensive hustle, high basketball I.Q. and value in the locker room gives him the edge over anybody else in that discussion. The Sixers can’t bring him back on a two-way contract and Brett Brown is the one making roster decisions. That has to favor McConnell.
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But TLC makes that decision difficult. The former first-round pick is under contract for next season, meaning he should theoretically be taking up that 15th spot. After his struggles last season, though, it might behoove the Sixers to attempt trading him for another future asset.
A long, versatile athlete who showed a lot of potential overseas, there’s reason to believe that TLC can figure out his role in the NBA. Despite a rough 2017-18 campaign, he did show some flashes. His future just doesn’t fit into the Sixers’ plans right now.
That also leaves Bayless, who will probably be bought out. Trading his contract was once an option, but the Sixers don’t need to clear cap space anymore. Paying him the money up front and letting him walk makes the most sense.
At that point, the Sixers would be able to offer Shake Milton one of their two-way contracts. Demetrius Jackson, who was one of the Sixers’ two-way contract recipients last season, can take the second one.
That would leave the following as the final 15(17)-man roster:
- Joel Embiid
- Ben Simmons
- Dario Saric
- Robert Covington
- J.J. Redick
- Markelle Fultz
- Wilson Chandler
- Nemanja Bjelica
- Amir Johnson
- Zhaire Smith
- Landry Shamet
- Justin Anderson
- Furkan Korkmaz
- Jonah Bolden
- T.J. McConnell
- Shake Milton (Two-Way)
- Demetrius Jackson (Two-Way)
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