3 buyout candidates the 76ers should keep tabs on
Potential 76ers buyout candidate: Goga Bitadze
It goes without saying that the Sixers are interested in Nerlens Noel. In fact, it’s probably fair to say that Noel is the most likely buyout candidate for Philadelphia. He’s a proven rim protector who can probably last longer in the playoffs than Montrezl Harrell.
That said, Noel is severely limited offensively and has not been particularly great in his limited minutes with Detroit this season. The Sixers should be willing to look at other bigs if backup center is indeed the front office’s main priority.
Goga Bitadze was out of the rotation in Indiana due to the bevy of young bigs on the roster. He was waived at the trade deadline and now figures to be on the lookout for another NBA job. The Sixers should express interest. He’s only 23 years old (Noel is 28) and he has flashed intriguing skills in the frontcourt. He’s a career 25.6 percent 3-point shooter on 1.3 attempts per game — not exactly setting the world on fire, but an interesting skill to develop. He’s a much better finisher and offensive player in general than Noel.
The defense isn’t a complete wash either. While Goga can get burned in certain matchups, he’s fundamentally strong and should have no trouble adopting the Sixers’ drop coverage scheme. He’s a big body in the paint and no stranger to swatting shots. He would fit the “traditional center” mold Doc Rivers appears keen to embrace. Philly would be wise to invest in a 23-year-old with upside if the only alternatives are washed-out vets or subpar offensive finishers.
