The Philadelphia 76ers are still in the thick of the heated race for LeBron James, and pending the resolution of that bidding war, the front office is essentially paralyzed from making any further moves. However, in case the superstar ends up spurning them in the open market, the so-called "Plan B" for the team could actually be one that ends up risking outrage among fans –– standing pat and leaving a roster spot open instead.
For now, the 76ers do not yet have a full house, with one roster spot still open. Obviously, they are earmarking it for the possibility of getting handpicked by LeBron. But if that ambition falters, the front office could be better off just leaving things as they currently are, given the fact that the free agency market is not exactly teeming with inspiring options at this juncture.
76ers could just stand pat this offseason if LeBron James spurs them
In years past, former team president Daryl Morey preferred to keep a roster spot open even after training camp, and while Mike Gansey is clearly of a different ilk, adopting the same posture makes a lot of sense. Sure, fans might not be so pleased about the prospect of standing pat after all the drama attendant with LeBron, but the front office cannot just make a move for the sake of doing so.
Right now, the 76ers still have some roster needs that need addressing. Unfortunately, most quality role players left have already slipped past them, thanks in large part to the LeBron race keeping everyone in an indefinite waiting period. Now, the open market is filled with players who do not exactly instill much confidence as possible additions.
76ers simply have to wait things out and see who is available
If they wait until after training camp, more names will become available for them to choose from, as most teams will carry a surplus of players into training camp before making the eventual roster cuts.
Also, leaving an empty roster spot will give the team some more flexibility and optionality when it comes to making in-season trades. That could very well be more valuable than, say, signing a washed-up veteran to man a third-string role.
As anticlimactic as it may sound, the 76ers could wrap up their otherwise splendid offseason by literally doing nothing else. Sure, that might sound counterintuitive given the razzle and dazzle they have found themselves in, but that is simply a prudent choice given how the market looks right now.
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