The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Pat Connaughton should be on the Sixers’ free agency radar

By Christopher Kline

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 2: Pat Connaughton #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on February 2, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 2: Pat Connaughton #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on February 2, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Philadelphia 76ers still have the opportunity to add another free agent.

When Nemanja Bjelica agreed to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, he was slated to make the room exception — around $4.4 million. Now that he has backed out of his deal, the Sixers still have cash to burn in free agency.

The Sixers currently have 15 players on the roster. They don’t need to spend that money now, and moving forward with the current group is certainly possible. With that said, most people expect Jerryd Bayless to be gone by opening night.

There have been rumblings of a potential Bayless-Kyle Korver trade, but the Cavs’ reported asking price is too high. Assuming that’s the case, it would be wise for the Sixers to move on and pursue depth elsewhere.

More from Free Agency

Bayless is a prime buyout candidate. If he wants to play elsewhere, the Sixers can pay the final year of his contract and open up another roster spot. That’s where they can use their room exception (or add another minimum contract).

As it tends to do toward the end of July, the free agency market is drying up. Clint Capela is the only big name left, and the only remaining question on that front is how much the Rockets will be paying him next year.

That leaves a very limited number of options for the Sixers. Almost all of them, however, are better  than wasting a roster spot on Bayless’ expiring deal.

David Nwaba is still a viable candidate, as he would add another perimeter defender and ancillary playmaker to the second unit. There are valid concerns about his shooting, though. With Markelle Fultz at the forefront, the Sixers’ bench doesn’t currently feature a ton of spacing.

That’s where a name like Pat Connaughton comes into play. The former second-round pick spent three seasons with the Trail Blazers, averaging 5.4 points in 18.1 minutes per game last season. He shot 35.2 percent from deep.

The Blazers have rescinded Connaughton’s qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Given his lack of production over three years — despite some promising flashes last season — Connaughton can probably be signed for cheap. The Sixers probably wouldn’t need the whole room exception.

And that makes sense. The Sixers would add another shooter who can compete for minutes with Landry Shamet and Furkan Korkmaz, giving Brett Brown multiple options for spacing in the second unit.

On top of his shooting prowess, Connaughton is an explosive athlete with decent size on the wing at 6-foot-5. He can attack closeouts and make things happen in straight-line drives, something the Sixers need more of.

The Sixers can essentially take a one-year flier on Connaughton and re-open that roster spot next summer, when the free agency market explodes.

If league expansion happens, who should the Sixers protect?. dark. Next

Nwaba is more talented (and worth more money), but Connaughton is someone to keep an eye on.