The Philadelphia 76ers landed the biggest fish in free agency this offseason after they managed to win the LeBron James bidding war. Soon after, they also brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, arming them with a proven three-and-D role player to round out their bench. However, with the front office having already exhausted their two veteran's minimum spots, the team is probably already out of the running for Bruce Brown.
As outlined by NBA insider Jake Fischer, Philly would have been in the mix for the one-time NBA champion, but the front office signing James and KCP has effectively taken them out of the running for the veteran wing. Obviously, there will be no regret on the 76ers' part for those decisions, but it is certainly worth noting that Brown was indeed an option for the team had it not been for their cap limitations.
The 76ers would have been in the running for Bruce Brown
For now, Brown puzzlingly remains unsigned in the open market, although recent whispers point to the Lakers expressing interest in snagging him as a free agent. Los Angeles is obviously in dire need of players who can at least hold their own on the defensive end, and the veteran certainly brings solid production on that end that would be much welcome on their bench.
Well, the 76ers would have likewise benefited from having Brown in the fold. Philadelphia has an embarrassment of riches in the scoring and shot-creation departments, and low-usage players like him who do not require the rock to make a dent on the ballgame, are especially valuable to a team littered with as much raw talent as the 76ers.
The eight-year veteran also has ample playoff and Finals experience, and while the 76ers are no longer lacking in those areas, their role players (not named KCP) are not exactly battle-tested in the postseason. Brown would have provided the coaching staff with someone who would not be rattled in high-stakes situations.
Well, it is not like it is the end of the world now that the 76ers are technically out of the running for Bruce Brown. Be that as it may, this is one consequence of the team having a top-heavy payroll, and their current configuration, while already ripe for a championship, will inevitably cause them to miss out on cheap, but impactful free agents like the veteran wing.
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