The writing is arguably already on the wall for Guerschon Yabusele to leave the Philadelphia 76ers sooner than later, but if he ends up signing with this team, it would definitely add insult to injury.
As soon as free agency kicked off, a lot of eyes were on the 76ers with how they plan on keeping Yabusele. For now, there has been little traction on that end, but the front office has remained steadfast on their desire to bring him back for another go-round with the franchise after a very successful comeback campaign in the league.
The Yabusele sweepstakes has placed the team in a state of relative suspense, but most pundits already have the forward leaving the 76ers for another team. In fact, the signing of Trendon Watford to a two-year deal only reinforces the belief that the front office is already gearing up for the high probability that the Frenchman opts to sign elsewhere in the open market.
One of the biggest threats to pry the forward away from Philly, San Antonio, remains a strong contender to snag him off the market. So is Denver, who just freed up significant cap space after dealing Michael Porter Jr. away. But one team that will raise a lot of brows from the 76ers circle is Milwaukee, which is rumored to be strongly pursuing Yabusele.
Guerschon Yabusele signing with the Bucks would be a nightmare scenario for the 76ers
The Bucks, like the Nuggets, have full access to the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception, meaning that they have more than enough to extend a tempting offer to Yabusele.
Milwaukee, already reeling from the exit of Brook Lopez, would greatly benefit from having Yabusele fill some of the void he left. That, of course, will be a nightmarish scenario for the 76ers, which will not only lose him in free agency, but also inadvertently strengthen a major rival in Milwaukee.
The East is wide-open next season as can be seen from teams like the Hawks going all-in. While Giannis Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks, Milwaukee is not seen as one of the favorites to come out of the East given its unflattering roster construction and the impending year-long absence of Damian Lillard.
If the Bucks were to end up signing Yabusele, that would weaken the 76ers while bolstering their roster, giving Philly yet another team to seriously worry about. As things currently stand, it would not be far-fetched to have the 76ers atop the Bucks in the pecking order, but even the slightest of edges could make a world of difference.
The hope, of course, is that Guerschon Yabusele ultimately returns to the Philadelphia 76ers. But if that does not pan out, fans would have to hope that he heads to the Western Conference, not to a fierce rival like Milwaukee.