Philadelphia 76ers: Grading 2021 offseason moves

Unless a surprise Ben Simmons trade occurs within the next several weeks, it appears that the majority of the Philadelphia 76ers offseason moves have been made. The Sixers haven’t made any flashy moves this offseason, but they have added depth, and the expected growth of their young players should make them better and deeper for next year.

With that in mind, it seems like an appropriate time to grade the offseason moves made by the 76ers entering this upcoming season. Let’s start with the draft as it was the first piece of business of the summer.

Drafting Jaden Springer

This was a great pickup for the Sixers overall. Jaden Springer was thought as of a top-20 talent entering this draft so for him to drop to the end of the first round was an absolute steal for Philly. Now the argument could be made that Philly could have gotten a more NBA-ready prospect in Miles McBride and Sharife Cooper, but the upside of Springer can’t be denied, especially at this spot in the Draft.

Grade: A

Drafting Filip Petrusev

Trying to give a grade to a player who is a draft and stash is tricky. Filip Petrusev has upside as a scorer and rebounder, but personally, he’s not the player I would have selected at the 50th pick. Jericho Sims, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Brandon Boston Jr. were still on the board and had a higher upside. Sims in particular has more upside as a center, which is a position of need for Philly.

Grade: C

Trading for and Drafting Charles Bassey

The Sixers not only traded $2 million for the 53rd pick, but they also selected another center in Charles Bassey. Bassey has more upside than Petrusev, but fans didn’t get to see it in the NBA Summer League, as he and Philly have been trying to figure out his contract situation. It could be as simple as they are waiting to sign him until the Simmons situation gets resolved. However, he figures to be a long-term project and won’t have a significant role this year.

Grade: C+