3 Players the Philadelphia 76ers should keep next season

1. Nic Batum’s veteran leadership is crucial for the 76ers

Nicolas Batum made a strong case in the postseason to remain with the Philadelphia 76ers at least for the next year. The veteran forward did his part providing much-needed defensive covers and shooting from beyond the arc. He did both reliably against tough Eastern Conference rivals like the Knicks and Heat.

The former Clippers' forward was part of the James Harden trade in November and has already proved that he fits well with the rest of the squad. He had his moments in the play-in tournament and the first-round playoff series against the Knicks. Batum is a good defender; he was even capable of covering Jalen Brunson on occasions.

The front office should definitely consider keeping the French international on the roster for next season, especially if the team is able to bring in a third-string star this offseason. Batum could be available at a reasonable price, so he fits in the team's cap space plan as the Sixers are projected to have around $60 million of cap space.

Batum averaged 6.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists shooting 40.9% from deep through six playoff games with the Sixers.