Without a shadow of doubt, the Philadelphia 76ers had the best and most eventful offseason slate of any team in the league. What initially looked like a squad of uncertainties is now a favorite to win the title next season. But by raking in their biggest summer wins, the front office actually cost itself an opportunity to make a final roster move and further improve the team around the margins early on.
As things currently stand, the 76ers are only $1.8 million under the first apron hard cap. That basically prevents them from signing any other free agent to even a veteran's minimum deal for the time being. The fact that the team has not shown any willingness to part ways with anyone from their current roster only cements that limit until at least December.
The 76ers are simply unable to sign anyone for their final roster spot
In effect, the 76ers have prevented themselves from filling out their roster. For now, they still have an open roster spot, one that could very well subsisting well into the regular season. That is one price they have to pay for signing LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, although that is obviously well worth the trade-off –– and it is not even close.
For example, someone like Ben Simmons, whom people continue to link to the 76ers given his history with the team, his and his camp's admission about being interested in a reunion, and a former connection with LeBron through Klutch Sports, is not even a feasible option for the team barring any roster ousters.
Now, while James and Jaylen Brown's arrivals definitely push the 76ers an echelon above most teams, the front office cannot just rest on their laurels. There are still some pressing issues on this team that need addressing, such as their questionable three-point shooting, lack of reliable playmaking outside of LeBron, and the endless discontent with the backup center position.
Philly would still greatly benefit from ushering in an inexpensive free agent who can fill one or all of those areas of improvement. For now, they are paralyzed from truly mounting a bid for players still available for taking in the open market, although the team seems unbothered by the constraint they latched onto themselves.
Nevertheless, even without this opportunity to fill out their regular 15-man lineup, the 76ers will still parade the most formidable lineup in the NBA, at least on paper, in the upcoming campaign. Hopefully, they do not come to a point where their failure to sign another player to improve their depth ends up mattering much more than expected.
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