The Philadelphia 76ers made a massive splash by signing Paul George. Superstars rarely change teams in free agency, but Daryl Morey proved his doubters wrong. The Sixers opened up significant space and convinced the top name on the market to join them. It gives Philadelphia three stars but leaves them with plenty to accomplish.
Add a max contract hurt the 76ers depth. Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, and Nicolas Batum all signed elsewhere. Morey must solve a new set of issues. They have the top-end talent but must turn it into a title-contending roster.
The Sixers have just nine players under contract, including first-round pick Jarred McCain, and some of those are unlikely to make the opening night roster. Morey needs to fill their 15-man roster and has several moves still to make to ensure Philadelphia is an elite team.
5. Add ring chasers
The 76ers have already agreed to deals with Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond to bring some veterans to their roster. They have several spots left to fill and should target more experienced talents who are eager to chase a championship. Those vets can give them a skilled bench and improve the franchise’s depth.
Justin Holiday, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jae Crowder, and Daniel Theis are just some of the free agents over 30 years old who may look to take less to chase a championship. There will be no shortage of options. The Sixers just need to convince them to come to Philadelphia.
Ideally, they would get a couple of players willing to accept the minimum in hopes of winning it all. The 76ers top-end talent gives them a legitimate shot, and these veterans could be what pushes the franchise over the top.
Daryl Morey and the front office cannot just focus on minimum signings. The Sixers have significant holes to fill and should start by trading a young big man who is stuck behind Joel Embiid for an upgrade.
4. Trade Paul Reed
Michael Scotto reported the Sixers will likely trade or waive Reed with the hopes of adding another forward.
The 6’9 big man is under contract for two more years, but neither is guaranteed. Philadelphia has until January 10, 2025 to fully lock in his $7.7 million salary for next season. It is a bargain deal for a 25-year-old with untapped potential.
The Jazz signed Reed to an offer sheet in the 2023 offseason, but Philadelphia matched on the restricted free agent. Do not be surprised to see the Jazz pop up as a franchise with interest in Reed.
Paul Reed averaged 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 19.4 minutes per game last season, but he is stuck behind Joel Embiid and now Andre Drummond. The 76ers are set at center and must trade him for a better fit on their roster. Philadelphia will quickly be over the first tax apron, so Reed will be a key salary-matcher if the Sixers are going to land a significant upgrade.
Daryl Morey must trade Paul Reed. It will mean packaging him with draft capital to land a superior fit. This deal could be a rare win for both franchises, but Morey must find the right franchise to make that a reality.
3. Re-sign Kyle Lowry
The Philadelphia native joined the 76ers in February after being bought out by the Hornets. Lowry never appeared in a game for Charlotte and was eager to get back into contention. Philadelphia had a need, which made signing with the Sixers even easier.
The franchise wants Lowry back, but how much are they willing to offer? The six-time All-Star is still productive, but no longer near his peak. The 38-year-old is best suited to play fewer than 30 minutes per game. He is still impactful on both ends of the floor but does not have the energy to handle a massive workload.
The Sixers need a point guard, and Lowry is the best available option. He can run the second unit and play with their starting group. Head coach Nick Nurse coached Lowry in Toronto, and it should be an easy decision to return to the City of Brotherly Love.
The veteran point guard is in no rush to make a decision. The 76ers do not have his Bird rights, so it will likely be a minimum contract. Lowry may try to convince some franchise to give him more, but finding that team won't be easy. He has plenty left in the tank but needs the right situation to optimize his production.
2. Build depth
The Sixers have nine players under contract, but only six who are part of their 2025 playoff rotation if healthy. They must add at least two more options. If they re-sign Kyle Lowry, the 76ers are still one player short, but the veteran will need rest too.
Buddy Hield is rumored to be signed-and-traded to Golden State, which leaves Robert Covington as the only potential option from last year’s squad. Even if the Sixers can re-sign him, they do not want just eight trusted options for the entire 82-game regular season and playoffs.
Daryl Morey should try to acquire several options capable of playing a nightly role. Nick Nurse will likely use a ten-player rotation during the regular season, and Philadelphia is delusional if they think their Big 3 will play in every game. The Sixers need depth, especially in the backcourt and on the wings.
Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey are locked in as starters. Kelly Oubre Jr., Eric Gordon, and Andre Drummond are the start of an elite second unit. Nick Nurse can figure out his best combinations, but he needs another trusted wing or forward capable of playing 30 minutes per game. There is only one way the Sixers find that piece.
1. Trade for a 3-and-D wing
Scotto mentioned the Sixers' interest in Dorian Finney-Smith. They are no strangers to trading with Sean Marks and Brooklyn. The Nets dealt Mikal Bridges to the Knicks and are open for business as they enter a rebuild. Brooklyn is focused on the 2025 draft and landing a potential star like Cooper Flagg.
The 76ers would love to add Doe-Doe. He can play the four and is comfortable spacing the floor and defending. Finney-Smith will not command touches and has playoff experience. He was a key part of the Mavericks 2022 run to the conference finals and could be a finishing piece in Philadelphia.
Daryl Morey must find a combo forward to add to his roster. Ideally, someone capable of starting and playing significant minutes. It will push the Sixers from a playoff team to a title contender when healthy.
The Philadelphia 76ers have significant injury concerns, but their upside is undeniable. Paul George is one of the best two way players in the league, and Joel Embiid won MVP in 2023. Add in Tyrese Maxey’s immense ceiling, and it would be not a surprise to see them make a deep playoff run. Much has to break right, including making these moves. If it does, the Sixers will be difficult to stop.