The Philadelphia 76ers are perhaps the biggest culprit when it comes to big name-hunting in the league all thanks to longtime executive Daryl Morey, who is at the helm of things for the franchise. As a result, it probably would not surprise many if they go after another player who is all about the glitz and glamor on the hardwood, right?
D’Angelo Russell is not someone who particularly garners positive fanfare as of late, but with the 76ers in dire need of another rotation-caliber guard off the bench, he could definitely be worth watching out for if you are Philly. The former All-Star, who was traded to the Washington Wizards in the shocking Anthony Davis trade, seems to be available for taking.
As reported, the Wizards have already stated that Russell will not be reporting to the team after the trade, with both camps having already resolved to seek other options on the market. That essentially sends D’Lo to the buyout market, and despite his decline, teams in the playoff race will likely do their due diligence on him. The 76ers should assert themselves as one of those ball clubs.
The 76ers should consider going after D’Angelo Russell to fill their bench
Taking into account the void left by Jared McCain after he got traded, the 76ers suddenly have a considerable hole that needs patching up in their second unit. Point guard play has been completely missing from their bench, which has forced Nick Nurse and the coaching staff to play Quentin Grimes and even Trendon Watford out of their natural positions to man the nominal playmaker role.
So far, the results have been mixed at best. It is evident that adding a point guard will go a long way toward the 76ers having a more well-rounded bench unit. Russell has his own vivid flaws, but he at least has ample experience playing in high-stakes settings as a catalyst in the guard positions.
While more of a combo guard, Russell has definitely proven himself to be a capable table-setter for his teammates. He is not as cerebral as, say, Chris Paul, but he gets the job done with his ability to take advantage of the gravity he generates with his outside shot by driving through the lane and making the proverbial kick out to open shooters or pocket passes to rim-runners.
At this point in the season, the 76ers cannot afford to get overly picky. They do not have the luxury of a wide selection pool to temporarily fill in the backup point guard job, but in the right role, D’Angelo Russell could thrive as an option on the tertiary.