The 2026 NBA Finals have been absolutely phenomenal, and while the Philadelphia 76ers do not have a direct interest in the result of this tightly contested series, the front office probably have their eyes glued to what is happening on the hardwood. After all, both the Knicks and the Spurs have created contrasting, yet effective blueprints on how to build a championship-caliber group.
Philly should be especially intrigued by New York, which is just one win away from the title after a historic comeback in Game 4. One player from their roster whom they should pay even closer attention to is Jose Alvarado, who was perhaps their biggest unsung hero from that game. The 28-year-old point guard could very well hit free agency this summer, which makes him a good, potential target for the 76ers.
Alvarado, who came over from the Pelicans at the trade deadline, has a player option amounting to $4.5 million for next season. However, he is likely to decline that if his camp were to receive a long-term offer from any ball club. To that effect, the 76ers should send out an offer to the pesky floor general to lure him away from the Big Apple.
The 76ers should steal Jose Alvarado in free agency to fix their backup PG woes
After trading Jared McCain away –– much to the fans' chagrin –– the 76ers basically operated without a backup point guard the rest of the way. Save for the cameo appearance of Cameron Payne, who then got waived shortly before the playoffs rolled, Philly had no other choice but to improvise in order to fill the void left by the sophomore.
As such, the 76ers should prioritize getting a new backup floor general this summer. Alvarado, who is widely known for his pesky defense, should be a good fit for the team with what he can bring to the table.
All in all, Alvarado's game is not exactly sexy. However, despite his physical limitations, he is a dogged defender who can quickly get under his opponents' skin. He is not a flashy playmaker, but he rarely coughs the ball up. His league-average three-point shot is also a handy thing to have.
The 76ers need someone who will not shy away from doing the less glamorous things on the floor, and Alvarado is definitely one player that can provide them a healthy supply of intangible and hard-nosed play. And for the right price, he should not be difficult to snag away from the Knicks.
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