The Philadelphia 76ers may not have as deep of a pocket this year as they did last year, but the front office remains in a crucial position to improve the roster. The franchise can no longer stomach another losing season, especially with the team’s championship window rapidly waning with each passing year.
Starting with the 2025 NBA Draft, the 76ers have a long list of things to do on their checklist. It remains to be seen what their disposition would be come June 25, but for now, suffice to say that the front office is exploring all of its options in the draft, which necessarily includes a trade out of or down from the third overall pick.
The real work, however, comes after the draft. The 76ers have to make do with their financial restraints this year, and it also does not help that their cap outlook is not totally within their control. A handful of their players are likely to exercise their player options, while they also have a couple of key players entering restricted free agency.
The 76ers should steal Sam Merrill from the Cavs
One area the 76ers badly need to address is three-point shooting, which they have sorely lacked in the last couple of years. Shooting does not come cheap nowadays, but one name they should look out for is Cleveland’s Sam Merrill.
The 29-year-old journeyman played a key role for the Cavaliers in their historic season, despite a disappointing playoff exit. He will most likely test the free agency waters this time around, and after a solid season as a floor spacer for the top-seeded team in the East, he will get a bigger payday, but not to the extend where he would be out of the 76ers’ range.
Signing Merrill and prying him away for the Cavs does two things for Philly: it addresses their three-point shooting woes, which have become magnified within their rather predictable scoring attack and also weakens a big rival in the East.
The 76ers barely have anyone whom one can safely tout as a sniper from long-range. Merrill, a career 38.6 percent three-point shooter, will give them a reliable option from long range who can make life much easier for the team, especially next to high-usage scorers.
While in no way a priority, the Philadelphia 76ers have to be opportunistic this time around. Zooming in on low-cost, high-value players like Sam Merrill ensures they usher in a possible difference-maker — all while weakening a key hurdle in the conference.