The free agency pool is quickly drying up with only a handful of teams with meaningful cap space still in play. That rings a louder bell for the Philadelphia 76ers which, amid rumors surrounding their personnel, still have an undermanned roster for the following season.
In fact, the Sixers have already lost a bunch of names in free agency, such as Georges Niang, Shake Milton, and Jalen McDaniels, with Paul Reed’s status for next season still up in the air. As a result, the front office has to double down on looking for contributors that can be had with their limited budget.
Without further ado, here are the five best remaining free agents the 76ers should look at.
5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
1. TJ Warren
Obviously, Philadelphia doesn’t particularly have a dearth of scoring options. However, with their second-leading scorer in James Harden at the crux of the rumor mill with his likely exit from the franchise, the 76ers can do much worse than add a layer of security on that end, even off the bench.
That’s where TJ Warren cuts his place. The 29-year-old struggled all season long finding his groove after two seasons of inactivity, but he still managed to show his scoring acumen in spurts. Having logged more time on that hardwood, he should be able to return to form in a lesser capacity.
In addition, Warren is a switchable forward who can more than hold his own defensively when healthy, though shot creation is inarguably his strong suit — giving the 76ers an offensive presence on the forward positions unlike the defensive-minded PJ Tucker and Danuel House Jr.
5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
2. Malik Beasley
Speaking of offensive safeguards, Malik Beasley, who remains unsigned after a brief stint with the Lakers, is one of the best shooters still available in the market. Despite falling out of Darvin Ham’s favor in the playoffs, the 26-year-old can definitely get back to form with a change of scenery.
Beasley’s bread and butter is volume three-point shooting. Last season, he drained a total of 235 triples in stints with the Lakers and the Jazz — a mark good for seventh among all players and ahead of guys like Jordan Poole, Anthony Edwards, and Anfernee Simons.
For what’s expected to be a relatively cheap price tag, the 76ers should be an aggressive pursuer of Beasley’s services. Aside from his acumen from downtown, he’s also a serviceable defender who’s not too far off from being an impactful one during his Minnesota stint. Fortunately, Philly is already rumored to be going after him in free agency.
5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
3. Dario Saric
Reunions and sentimental feelings aside, the Philadelphia 76ers do need a big body to provide some cushion for Joel Embiid, making Dario Saric, an ex-Sixer stud, a desirable target for the front office with free agency approaching its climax.
After an ACL injury that sidelined him for a calendar year, the Croatian tweener did not have much playing time in stints with Phoenix and Oklahoma City. Still, he was able to show glimpses of his all-around skill as a secondary playmaking hub, perimeter threat, and capable glass cleaner.
When healthy, Saric can seamlessly function as a release valve on offense for the second unit, playing either as a backup center or a power forward in tall configurations. His court awareness should be an element that newly-installed head coach Nick Nurse can maximize even if his minutes remain modest at best.
5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
4. Mo Bamba
Despite high expectations, Mo Bamba was waived by the Lakers after appearing in just nine games for them last season. But at just 25 years of age, there’s still some justifiable intrigue behind what the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft can bring to the table with his unique physical tools and skillset.
With the 76ers unlikely to re-sign Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed yet to be signed, the front office should load up on providing some ammunition at the center position off the bench. Bamba, while not the best remaining center in the market, adds a much-need infusion of youth in the frontcourt outside of Embiid for what should be a meager price.
Standing at 7’0″, Bamba combines length and size with his surprising mobility. Especially adept as a shot-blocker, he can also stroke the three as a career 36 percent three-point shooter and crash the boards with ease. Should the 76ers fail to retain Reed, Bamba can be a more than welcome alternative, though he would be a nice addition either way.
5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
5. Mason Plumlee
Quite easily the best center available in the market, Mason Plumlee could be well beyond what the Sixers can afford. However, with almost all teams already hard-capped, the 10-year veteran may not have a choice but to settle for well below his market value.
After logging a very steady stint as a starting center in the last four years, Plumlee settled into a backup role with the LA Clippers late in the season. Make no mistake though, the 6’11” bruiser is still a very effective rotation player who can log significant minutes off the bench or seamlessly slide into the starting lineup when needed.
With Embiid missing time due to nagging injuries, having someone like Plumlee is a luxury the 76ers should salivate at. While not a strong pot scorer, he is a tenacious rebounder, especially on the offensive boards with a great feel on the court and above-average passing skills for a player of his stature.
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