The 76ers could regret their lack of interest on forgotten free agent

Modesty aside, the Philadelphia 76ers probably had the best offseason in the NBA. But as the saying goes, you can’t expect to please everyone. GIven recent precedence, some, if not many, are still divided on the franchise’s actual chances of competing for the championship in the upcoming 2024-25 season.

That’s only for the nitpicking enthusiasts, though. As currently constructed, the 76ers have one of the richest collections of talent in the NBA. But to the naysayers’ credit — or really, everybody else — higher expectations mean more demands, and not maximizing every available opportunity will always be seen as a negative, just like with this free agent who was somehow completely forgotten this offseason.

The 76ers should have shown interest in Cedi Osman

Philadelphia has covered a lot of bases this summer, but there’s still some concerns hovered around their forward rotation. One name they could have pursued is Cedi Osman who, before reportedly inking a deal in Europe just recently, somehow failed to garner any traction in the open market.

Osman was a bench staple last season for an uber-young San Antonio Spurs team. Despite a reduced role, he was still a rather productive backup, functioning as Gregg Popovich’s go-to connector off the bench for his patented motion offense.

Still a pretty capable three-point shooter and secondary passer who has uncanny spatial awareness, particularly on offense, that Osman was completely ignored is quite shocking. That, of course, similarly applies to the 76ers, a team in dire need of more bolsters at forward.

Osman would have been a great Nicolas Batum replica; a low-usage, all-around cog who won’t wow with counting stats but do more than enough to be a factor on the hardwood with subtle things, although his defense leaves a lot to be desired.

For now, the Philadelphia 76ers still have some decisions to make, especially in training camp. Hopefully, they find a way to iron out the roster and get some more needed help before the regular season officially begins.