1 Dream, 1 reach, 1 realistic free agent for the 76ers to target

The season may not be over just yet, but a lot of eyes are already set on the Philadelphia 76ers, a franchise well-positioned to have the most eventful offseason in the NBA. No other team with title aspirations has more financial legroom than them, and the fact that they have been linked to the big names is a testament to their spending power.

Having said that, the rumor mill tends to show a blatant disregard of the realities of the market, making some linkages unrealistic, even for the 76ers. Thus, let’s take a hard look at the different free agent options the team has ranging from realistic to mere pipe dreams.

Realistic 76ers target: DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan will enter free agency as one of the least predictable stars in the market. While a return to Chicago is pretty much in play given how the Bulls have effectively handcuffed themselves into a middling position, it makes little sense for the six-time All-Star to spend the remaining years of his prime on a team destined to be on the NBA’s purgatory.

Since DeRozan is unlikely to command anywhere near a max contract in free agency, he could actually be a tenable high-end target for the 76ers. While certainly not the best available talent out there, he’s still an All-Star caliber wing with a pretty versatile skill set who can fulfill various roles, save for the three-point shooter hat.

Still one of the most efficient, high-volume scorers in the NBA, the 34-year-old DeRozan would be a tremendous upgrade over Tobias Harris and an even more talented connector than Nicolas Batum. While his lack of a consistent three-point shot is admittedly a turn-off, he’s still a desirable offensive piece thanks to his masterful rim-running, opportunistic one-on-one scoring, and much improved playmaking skills.