NBA Rumors: 76ers could hit jackpot with rival’s brewing free agency disaster

The 2024 offseason will definitely be a bloodbath. The Philadelphia 76ers, owners of one of the airiest pockets in the league, are the favorites to have the most climactic summer, but they will definitely have some competitors in that regard, some reckoned to be more potent than the others.

Philly cannot afford to be too mindful of their competitors, though. While free agency deals cannot be formalized until July 5, teams can now negotiate with players in the open market for potential signings. If the 76ers engage on the waiting game even for a tad too long, they could seriously miss out on some of their targets.

Rival team’s rumored fallout has the 76ers potentially nearing jackpot with OG Anunoby

One player who has long been rumored as one of Philly’s targets in free agency, OG Anunoby, is deemed a near-lock to remain with the Knicks. Don’t jump your guns, though, as the latest intel out of New York signals that it may be far from reality.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, league-wide expectations about the Knicks coming to new terms with Anunoby could be slated for a surprising reversal, as the widely coveted forward apparently doesn’t seem too thrilled by what his current club is offering.

"Let's keep an eye on that. Most people believe Anunoby will stay with New York, but there have been indications he may want to test the market, because he's not thrilled with what the Knicks are offering."

- Brian Windhorst

If true, this is definitely terrible news for the 76ers, as Anunoby, when healthy, proved that he was the perfect complementary player they could pug next to Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. Instead, they could risk letting one of the league’s utmost best defenders walk away for nothing.

Again, should this harden as the truth, Philadelphia should immediately engage with his camp about his preferences and try to meet his asking price. Anunoby shouldn’t cost anywhere near the max, but he’ll undoubtedly be one of the most handsomely compensated high-end role players on the market.

Anunoby on the 76ers would definitely count as a jackpot for the franchise. He packs enough offensive punch to be a designated third fiddle to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and he has the prowess to be their main guy on defense, something they lacked this season.