Sixers: Yea or Nay on re-signing every free agent
Should the Sixers bring back Danny Green?
Danny Green‘s $10 million contract for next season is completely non-guaranteed. The Sixers have until June to make a decision, and that decision could greatly impact their team-building strategy for next season — even with Green expected to miss the entire year while rehabbing his ACL and LCL tears, which he suffered in the Sixers’ torturous Game 6 loss to Miami.
The Sixers will miss Green’s services greatly, whether he’s with the team or not. Bringing him back would keep a sturdy veteran presence in the locker room and allow Green to rehab with the added financial security of $10 million (not that Green is a penniless drifter). It would also give the Sixers $10 million in expiring money to explore the trade market with. The Sixers have precious few avenues to foundational change. With Green out of the mix, it could make sense to guarantee his contract and then search for another 3-and-D wing on the trade market. That could benefit the Sixers and Green, who would get paid regardless of which team he lands with.
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On the flip side, if the Sixers are taking a more ambitious approach this summer — clearing out cap space and getting creative with James Harden’s contract — then wiping Green’s $10 million from the cap sheet might be the move. Or, more cynically, if Sixers ownership doesn’t want to pay the subsequent luxury tax penalties of carrying Green’s contract into next season, he could be cut.
It will ultimately depend — in an ideal world — on Morey’s plans in free agency. If there’s going to be a real effort to clear big cap space around Harden and Embiid, then Green is an unfortunate casualty. If the Sixers are going to ride into next season with Tobias Harris and the full cap sheet in tact, then why not bring Green back and try to use his salary on the trade market?
Final vote: YEA (unless the Sixers have a better idea)