Plotting the dream offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers
Step 3: Shoot for the stars
Daryl Morey and the 76ers have made it abundantly clear that the overarched edict in the offseason (heck, even before the trade deadline) was to pursue a third star who can lead the franchise to perennial contention next to Embiid and Maxey. That’s not about to change, especially in light of the admirable prep work the front office has done to be in the position to go after one.
Thanks to some blockbuster-y midseason trades around the association, this year’s crop of free agents isn’t necessarily oozing with star-level talent. While far from ideal, this gives the 76ers the chance to be intentional in the process and lock in on someone they truly want to sign. That most of the teams with substantial cap space are in youth-centric movements also favor Philly in a potential bidding war, where they could very well be bidding against themselves.
For starters, Philly’s brass could monitor Paul George’s situation with the LA Clippers, which have just inked Kawhi Leonard to a lucrative extension with George and James Harden still on the lookout. The 76ers could also turn a seemingly pipe dream into a realistic scenario, as long as they draft a familiar prospect with a familiar name.