Entering training camp, the Philadelphia 76ers definitely have their work cut out for them. Thanks to the team’s brutal revolving door of injuries last season, team chemistry was something they were never really able to develop as a group, so one might call this campaign as the real first year together for this squad.
That is probably the reason as to why despite the team’s undeniable volume of raw talent on the roster, they are not considered as definite contenders for the title. But aside from that, there are just way too many holes on their lineup, most striking of which is their utter lack of size at most positions, especially at forward.
Letting Guerschon Yabusele walk is one thing, but failing to get a proven option to replace him makes it all worse. For now, the 76ers do not have a fallback option if the likes of Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker do not pan out, and even though they are most likely going to play just few minutes on a nightly basis, those are crucial bits of time for a team with such a shallow depth.
To ameliorate their forward rotation, the front office could look into some uncharted options in the open market or in the pool of players who might become available sooner than later. Case in point? Look no further than former All-Star big man Kevin Love.
The 76ers could take a flier on Kevin Love to shore up their depth
Love, who somehow found himself getting shipped to Utah from Miami this summer, is most definitely not a good fit with his new team. The Jazz are looking to invest more minutes and opportunities to their younger players, and the 37-year old is simply a dangling piece for them at this juncture.
People expect both sides to eventually agree to a contract buyout, and while the Jazz still expect the veteran to suit up for them, this is all but guaranteed to be a short-term partnership.
Now, the five-time All-Star is well past his prime, but the 76ers could actually be a good fit for him in a very minor role off the bench. Hypothetically, he will not be playing much, but he can be that emergency floor-spacing big man the coaching staff can trot out once in a while to give the team more spacing without sacrificing size, and more importantly, rebounding.
Love’s three-point shooting has fluctuated in recent years, but this is still a 37 percent career three-point shooter we are talking about. Even better, despite his minimal role with the Heat last season, he was still a very effective presence on the glass, which is definitely a big point of weakness for Philly.