The Philadelphia 76ers managed to somehow extend their season following a gutsy road dub over New York in Game 5, but even so, few, if at all, would bill the team as an overachiever. After all, they do have the stronger team on paper, especially with the Knicks’ other All-Star shelved due to injury. And part and parcel of their underwhelming showing so far as a collective is their lack of bona fide playoff performers aside from the usual suspects.
Put simply, the 76ers’ supporting cast has been abysmal, and a non-herculean performance from both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey almost guarantees a loss. This should be an emphasis for the front office this summer, and to follow this edict, they could look into these three playoff standouts so far and keep an eye on them this offseason.
3 Surprising playoff standouts the 76ers should pursue in free agency
1. OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby’s counting stats look modest at best, but since returning from a lengthy absence due to injury, the All-NBA defender has done nothing but remind everyone of his game-altering presence on the defensive end, easily powering the Knicks’ aggressive defense that has caused so many headaches for the 76ers in their first-round series.
New York, however, isn’t a lock to retain him beyond this season, as Anunoby is a near shoe-in to decline his player option and enter free agency for a lucrative deal. The Knicks will definitely be willing to spend, but would they be really interested in matching a potential above-market pay for one of the league’s premier defenders?
One team that can make them shiver on such sweepstakes is the 76ers. Philadelphia’s front men have made it abundantly clear that Paul George would be their dream acquisition, but should they fail to deliver on that ambitious plan of theirs, zooming in on Anunoby, a defensive force with enough offensive juice to function as a seamless release valve, would be a really wise pivot.