Sixers: 3 free agents targets on first round opponent Wizards
The players and coaches on the Sixers need to focus on how they will defeat the Washington Wizards in this first round matchup. Luckily for the Philadelphia 76ers front office, they don’t have to have such a narrow focus.
They can think beyond this series and postseason. It’s their responsibility to think about how to improve the roster in the future. While they should be focused on this series, it should be because they could evaluate potential free agents on the Wizards during this season. There are at least three soon-to-be free agents on Washington that could help Philly next year.
3 free agents targets on first round opponent Wizards: Alex Len
Out of the players on this list, Alex Len is probably the easiest player for the 76ers to sign this offseason. As I’ve written in the past, Len is a bust as a former number five overall pick. He’s not a franchise center and if it weren’t for the injury to Thomas Bryant, he probably won’t be a starting center in the NBA.
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That being written, he has proven to be a good stop-gap starter/reserve center. At 7-feet and 250 lbs, he can mirror Joel Embiid’s physical presence. He can rebound and he’s a big body that can cause problems in the paint on both sides of the ball from time to time. He made a good first audition in Game 1 with 12 points and three rebounds in 16 minutes.
He shouldn’t be the primary backup to Embiid as Dwight Howard has proven to be a great fit in that role. However, if he could be a great third-string center to have on the roster who would start in Embiid’s place whenever the All-Star big man misses time.
He’d be a cheap option for the team in free agency and if they don’t want to rely on a young player, getting a guy like Len on a team-friendly deal during his prime would be a steal. He’s good in a limited role and if he cares about winning, then Philly should be attractive to him as well.