With Joel Embiid out due to injury, the Philadelphia 76ers are single-handedly represented by Tyrese Maxey in the All-Star weekend. Thanks to his strong play this season, the 23-year-old guard was deservedly named as a first-time All-Star.
The 76ers may be in a state of flux for the rest of the season, but the franchise has no reason to pout. After all, Embiid could still very well return in time for the playoffs, and more importantly, the front office will be loaded with options to improve the roster in the offseason.
That being said, landing marquee names is a tall task. Hence, in the spirit of the All-Star weekend, here are five former All-Stars the 76ers can sign for cheap this coming summer should they miss out on their more sterling targets.
5 Former All-Stars the 76ers can sign for cheap in the offseason
1. Klay Thompson — SG/SF (UFA)
Klay’s struggles have been well-documented this season, but his recent realignment as the Warriors’ de facto sixth man has bred some optimism for a more optimized role in the foreseeable future. Still, Thompson will be entering unrestricted free agency this summer, and given how Golden State is in a state of flux, re-signing him is far from a guarantee.
On the heels of a lucrative contract, Thompson may be amenable to a slightly below-market contract from interested teams. And should the 76ers fail to strike on their top targets and find the Buddy Hield market to be too expensive, making a play for the five-time All-Star should be in their cards.
While he’s starting to fall off, Thompson remains a very lethal volume spot-up shooter with an abundant amount of playoff experience and championship pedigree. His length also gives him a higher floor defensively, and his play style is very simple to incorporate in lineups featuring one of or both Embiid and Maxey.