The Philadelphia 76ers are a surefire bet to look much different next season as 12 players currently on the roster are set to enter free agency this summer — easily the most of any team in the league. And with the front office having done an extensive prep work to preserve as much cap space as possible, one can bank on the franchise letting go of most of their to-be free agents.
Nevertheless, the 76ers will definitely look into retaining some key players, primarily those who wouldn’t cost a fortune to re-sign anyway. Chemistry is a real on-court asset, and cutting all those players loose makes little sense. However, here are four impending free agents on the team whom the front office must avoid signing back.
4 Free agents the Philadelphia 76ers must not re-sign this offseason
1. Tobias Harris — PF/SF (UFA, Bird)
Tobias Harris entering free agency is the biggest reason behind the 76ers’ cap space suddenly ballooning this offseason. And given the fact that the front office has repeatedly tried moving his albatross contract in recent years, the most plausible scenario seems to be Philly finally letting go of the veteran forward.
Philadelphia is widely believed to be on the lookout for a potential third star this season, so it just naturally makes sense for the franchise to drop the hammer on Harris who is, in turn, expected to command significant interest in free agency. It must be noted that a couple of teams already tried to woo the 76ers into a trade for him, but to no avail.
Whil Harris is on the final stretch of his prime, he remains a solid contributor with ample playoff experience and veteran presence. He is an efficient operator on the scoring end, capable of racking up points at all three levels, while also functioning well enough to be banked on as a customary defensive piece.
4 Free agents the Philadelphia 76ers must not re-sign this offseason
2. De’Anthony Melton — SG/PG (UFA, Bird)
Another key player in the last couple of seasons for the 76ers is combo guard De’Anthony Melton, who has started in most of his appearances for the team, especially this season. But entering free agency, the veteran is not necessarily an indispensable piece, and a price tag expected to rise could guarantee him donning new threads next season.
For a backcourt cog pegged as a 3-and-D operator, Melton has definitely been more than serviceable. However, his injury concerns have not slowed down, particularly in the present campaign where he’s already missed almost half of the games.
Unless his asking price remains relatively the same, the 76ers should move on from Melton and seek more well-rounded options to complement Tyrese Maxey better. Buddy Hield’s emergence also doesn’t help his case, as the sharpshooter has already effectively supplanted him in the current pecking order.
4 Free agents the Philadelphia 76ers must not re-sign this offseason
3. Cameron Payne — PG/SG (UFA, Non-Bird)
Both the 76ers and Cameron Payne probably understand that the midseason trade that sent the latter to Philly will only yield a rental situation. By all odds, it’s unlikely that the front office will seriously look into getting him back for next season.
Without offense to Payne, a solid veteran role player with sufficient offensive ammo and contagious defensive activity, but there’s simply little reason for the 76ers to make a play for him in free agency. The team already has Kyle Lowry, a safer bet to return next season under the premise that he doesn’t retire just yet, and the market offers a robust selection of guards anyway.
If we were to make a bet, it’s more likley that the 76ers try to re-sign Melton for cheap instead of settling for Payne, who can only handle limited minutes at best. But fortunately for the veteran, there should still be some playoff teams — those with thin guard rotations — that would be willing to take a flyer on him.
4 Free agents the Philadelphia 76ers must not re-sign this offseason
4. Kelly Oubre Jr. — SF/SG (UFA, Non-Bird)
A suprising minimum-value signing, Kelly Oubre Jr. landed in Philadelphia hoping to recoup his value after a deflating free agency last summer from a pecuniary view. He’s undoubtedly outplayed his contract with his positive play this season as one of the team’s designated scorers off the bench, but there’s almost a zero chance that the 76ers bring him back next season, albeit involuntarily.
Oubre has played his way into a big payday in the offseason. However, the truth is the 76ers are simply limited as regards the amount of money they can tender to him in bidding. Philly can offer him just 120% of his current rate as the starting salary of his new deal, and it’s almost a guarantee that another team will extend him an offer more than at least the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which amounts to $13 million.
Still, both parties knew that this was the case, and the 76ers should already be prepared for this. As alternative, the front office can instead shift their focus on perhaps convincing Nicolas Batum to return for another season and not retire or look at more proven commodities at the wing positions.