After losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Philadephia 76ers knew that some major changes had to be made.
They kicked things off with a big bang by letting go of Coach Doc Rivers and replacing him with an NBA champion in Nick Nurse. Now, they will turn their attention to tweaking the roster via trades and free agency. In the process, they will have to decide what to do with their own impending free agents, of which there are several. With that said, let us predict where all of them will be playing on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA season.
Mac McClung – Deleware Blue Coats
It was certainly an interesting year for Mac McClung. The guard made headlines across the world with an impressive showing in the 2023 Dunk Contest, having taken home the trophy. The guard inked a two-way deal with the 76ers and put up some eye-catching numbers in limited minutes. Having also helped lead the Deleware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ G-League affiliate, to a title earlier this year, McClung certainly has made a name for himself in Philadelphia. While he likely will not earn a standard deal, the guard could start the year in the G-League with hopes of making it onto an NBA roster.
Louis King – Deleware Blue Coats
Excluding the Dunk Contest victory, Louis King had a similar season to Mac McClung. He helped the Blue Coats win the title and was given a two-way deal by the 76ers. Similarly, he will likely be a member of the Blue Coats to start next season and fight for a roster spot at the next level. King appeared in just one game for Philadelphia this past season, but he certainly made his mark after scoring 20 points on 61.5 percent shooting in that lone contest. At 24 years old, King is still young, and the 76ers should look to continue developing him into hopefully becoming a rotational player.
Dewayne Dedmon – Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will likely be looking for some size behind Anthony Davis this off-season. While they have Mo Bamba, they could use another big man for depth purposes. If they want to add a reserve center that could be had on a very cheap deal, Dewayne Dedmon may be a feasible option. He’d bring veteran experience and rebounding to the purple and gold without altering LA’s payroll too mightily.