It's not exactly a secret that this past season didn't go quite the way Philadelphia 76ers fans envisioned. With that being said, there are enough major and talented pieces still in place for this team to contend if Paul George and Joel Embiid can get healthy. With that in mind, the front office may want to look at bringing back one particular former player for next season: De'Anthony Melton.
With the 76ers desperate to get the most out of their core and with their need for perimeter defense, a reunion with Melton might be a move that makes even more sense than it initially appears. Let's also take into consideration one thing in particular about the NBA when it comes to the postseason.
You simply don't make it far in the NBA Playoffs if you're not a highly successful defensive unit. For example, both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder have a high number of plus defenders that put them in the position they're in right now.
High end talent can get you in a position to contend for a title, but you're not going to reach the mountaintop without multiple strong defenders you can place in a variety of lineups. Melton clearly fits this type of mold.
De'Anthony Melton's defense would be appreicated on this roster
We also have to consider what Philadelphia will do if they keep the number three overall pick in this month's draft. They will likely add another young offensive-minded player with that pick, and it's not likely that player also comes right out of the gate with a strong defensive presence as well.
Obviously, that would only increase the need for more proven defenders like Melton in the Sixers' rotation. If we look back on his prior tenure in Philly, Melton proved his value as a physical guard who frequently made life difficult for opposing ball handlers.
During the 2022-23 season, he started 58 games, most of them alongside Tyrese Maxey, and helped to balance out the 76ers' backcourt. Reintroducing him into Philadelphia's rotation would not be a transition that's extremely difficult to make, regardless of how long he's been away from the team.
De'Anthony Melton could likely be signed for a relatively low price considering the one-year, $12.8 million deal he was playing on in Brooklyn this past season. If the Philadelphia 76ers could add him back in the mix, it could be an underrated move toward getting them back to the level of one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.