Unlike last year, the Philadelphia 76ers will enter the offseason on much more of a stricter budget. With Philadelphia’s star trio of Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey taking up nearly 94% of its payroll next season and 11 players possibly hitting free agency, this summer appears to be more about rounding out the roster rather than making a big splash. Still, multiple low-cost players are hitting the market this summer that could end up being steals for the 76ers.
1. Trey Lyles
There’s a large possibility that Guerschon Yabusele could fall out of Philadelphia’s price range and if so, it will need a new stretch four. Entering unrestricted free agency, Trey Lyles could very well be that player after spending three and a half seasons with the Sacramento Kings. This year, Lyles mainly came off the bench in 69 games where he posted 6.5 points per game on 34% shooting from deep off 3.4 nightly attempts along with 4.6 rebounds per game.
Out of the four players on this list, Lyles is more of a reach since he’s coming off of a two-year/$16 million contract and there will be other teams in need of a floor-spacing forward. Still, if Lyles values pursuing a championship, the 76ers could offer him the bi-annual exception roughly worth $5.1 million depending on their financial situation, or a veteran minimum deal.
2. Justin Edwards
Some may consider this cheating, but Justin Edwards has approximately a $2 million team option for next season. Amidst Philadelphia’s late-season tank, he showed promise as a 3&D forward – finishing the season with 10.1 points per game on 55.9% true-shooting, 3.4 rebounds per game, and one steal per game.
Without a doubt, the 76ers will pick up Edwards’ player option and based on his rookie production, he should have a consistent role within their rotation next year. If he takes another leap as a sophomore, Philadelphia could have an absolute steal of a contract on its hands. It would be in the 76ers’ best interest to lock him up for the long haul sooner rather than later.
3. Taurean Prince
However, if Edwards’ rookie campaign was a fluke, there’s another cheap option that will be available for insurance. Following one season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Taurean Prince will head into unrestricted free agency once more. Prince started in 73 of his 80 appearances this season where he notched 8.2 points per game on 43.9% shooting from downtown off 4.2 attempts per game.
If you’ve been following my work, then you’d know having Prince on this list is a bit of a contradiction. I’ve been preaching that Philadelphia needs to get younger and more athletic and Prince doesn’t seem to fit that bill. Regardless, I’m confident that Edwards will pan out and Prince will be an addition solely for depth, and having him rostered on a veteran minimum would be a solid value.
4. Bol Bol
During Andre Drummond’s notable decline this season, Adem Bona displayed flashes of him becoming the 76ers’ primary backup center next year. While I have faith in Bona’s development, the NBA postseason has taught us that teams need to have variety depending on the matchup and that’s where Bol Bol comes in. Bol spent the last two seasons with the Phoenix Suns where he was primarily a reserve forward and center.
This year, Bol played in 36 contests and produced 6.8 points per game on 62.7% true-shooting alongside 2.9 rebounds per game. If Philadelphia signed him to a veteran minimum, it would have a versatile group of centers that it could deploy against any team. With Bona, the 76ers get athleticism, interior protection, and rim running. With Bol, Philadelphia has spacing and more size, although he needs to assert himself off the glass more.
While none of the players listed are exactly eye-catching, except Edwards, any one of them would be a cheap, solid addition to the 76ers. Who knows, by June 30th, Philadelphia’s roster and payroll could look drastically different considering the wild nature of NBA offseasons. For now, the 76ers are on a budget, but there are still options.