The injury to MVP front runner Joel Embiid is a tough pill to swallow for the Philadelphia 76ers despite the fact he isn’t projected to miss more than a few weeks. While I recently wrote that the franchise should be fine with Tony Bradley holding down the fort, they may not feel the same way.
The depth chart of Bradley, a post-prime Dwight Howard, Vincent Poirier, and rookie Paul Reed doesn’t look great on paper. If the Sixers can create a roster spot, by most likely trading/waiving one of the big men like Poirier, then they have some options on the free agent market.
If they decide to go that route, then there are at least three options available on the market.
3 free agent center options: Ian Mahinmi
34-year-old veteran free agent Ian Mahinmi is the least attractive name on this list. Despite the lack of flair associated with the 6-foot-11 center, he’s not a terrible option to have behind the likes of Bradley and Howard on the depth chart.
Mahinmi has built the reputation over the length of his career of being a physical defender and solid rebounder at the center spot. His career average of 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds isn’t the most attractive of stats, however, as a backup big, it’s certainly not bad.
The positive about primarily being a reserve for the majority of his career is that he should still have some gas left in the tank. Last season when he was on the Washington Wizards, he averaged 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, for 21.3 minutes per game primarily as a starter.
If signed by Philly, he’d be another solid veteran for the locker room who could provide solid interior defense in a limited role.