The Philadelphia 76ers quickly got the engine running on the opening day of free agency, signing Paul George and three other value role players to new deals. With that being said, the team still has a slew of open roster spots to fill, and with their cap space slowly getting sapped, the front office will have to be ultra-creative filling out the roster.
Fortunately for Daryl Morey and the rest of the crew, the market is still littered by a ton of proven commodities, some of which profile as viable gap-fillers for what the 76ers lack. Alas, without further ado, here are five veteran free agents the team should sign to a minimum deal.
5. Joe Ingles can be the perfect Nic Batum replacement for the 76ers
Nic Batum’s surprising non-retirement induced exit leaves the 76ers with a pretty considerable hole not only in the forward position, but more importantly, in the passing department. While not a high-volume playmaker by any means, the Frenchman quickly proved himself as a perfect connector next to high-usage players like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Basketball IQ and natural court sense cannot be taught, making Batum an even bigger loss. However, there’s one player currently available who actually fits that billing: Joe Ingles. Still without a team after the Magic declined their team option on the veteran, the 76ers should come knocking at his doors and see if he’s willing to take on a Batum-like role.
Ingles is nowhere near the defender Batum is, but he’s just as good — if not better — than the latter offensively. He’s had a bigger sample size as a more prominent table-setter throughout his career, and his three-point shooting remained elite last season for Orlando. For the veteran’s minimum, Ingles would be a tremendous get for a 76ers team in dire need of passing acumen.