The Philadelphia 76ers front office faces a very tall task this offseason of maximizing their financial leg room and in-house assets to form the best team possible. That’s why the team’s numerous links to some of the biggest names in the market are far from surprising; if any, these signal that the franchise is willing to go to great lengths to bolster their bid for the championship in the foreseeable future.
Assuming the 76ers hit on their targets, though, Philly’s brass will have to be very creative filling out the rest of the roster, as signing a third star would mean sapping their entire spending leeway. A budding contender like them , however, cannot just settle for spare parts. Thus, here are five low-risk, high-reward free agents they should take a gamble on.
5. Kevin Love
Kevin Love could technically opt to skip free agency altogether, but there’s also a good chance he declines his player option to try and get a lengthier contract for perhaps the final time in his career. This season, the five-time All-Star rode Miami’s bench all year long, but not while turning in a productive campaign as one of Erik Spoelstra’s most trusted backups.
The former NBA champion’s offerings are much limited at this juncture, but he’s remained serviceable when called upon. He’s still a prolific rebounder, above-average passer for his position, and a reliable floor-spacer — traits that would make for a perfect backup big man for a team badly needing one, just like the 76ers.
Philadelphia won’t be able to give him much court time, but he has the potential to be a high-reward signing as the team’s designated floor-stretching big man. While Nick Nurse has historically preferred more mobile options for the role, Love is a battle-tested veteran who still touts useful offensive utility, though his defensive shortcomings will have to be abated.