The Philadelphia 76ers underwent a mini-midseason revamp following the trade deadline and the key signing that unfolded right after, and while they’re not quite set yet, the franchise from top to bottom is certainly aware that the big switch is meant to unearth itself in the next campaign.
With a ton of cap space staled to be opened up to throw at free agents, the league-wide expectation is that the 76ers will be the single biggest player in the offseason, be it in free agency or in the ever-active trade market. Surely, with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey having already proven themselves as a rock-solid foundation, the franchise would want to surround them with talent across the board in hopes of snapping its 41-year championship drought.
The Philadelphia 76ers are likely to be the most active team in the offseason
Starting from the draft, Philly will have a lot on its plate next summer, as is the case with any team. However, the franchise has managed to single itself out by preserving the biggest spending power in the association to go along with their considerable number of in-house assets and draft capital.
Philadelphia has an ambitious front office that will inarguably dip its fingers on every available pot. From realistic outcomes to pipe dreams, what would a dream offseason look like for the 76ers? Let’s plot a pathway that could eventually lead to a very desirable summer for the franchise.
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Plotting the dream offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers
Step 1: Sign Tyrese Maxey to a lucrative extension
Easily a no-brainer, the 76ers’ utmost priority this offseason is to secure Tyrese Maxey for the foreseeable future. The first-time All-Star has far exceeded expectations this season, growing into a true point guard who has shown a more mature offensive profile as a shot creator and a playmaker.
Philadelphia strategically opted to forego extending Maxey last offseason in hopes of maximizing its flexibility to make trades or go after free agents. Slated to enter restricted free agency this summer, the front office can and will match any offer for the 23-year-old. Knowing this, teams won’t probably hand him toxic offer sheets, though the 76ers won’t flinch even at a max-level salary demand.
Extending Maxey would cut into the bulk of the 76ers’ projected practical cap space amounting to $76.8 million (assuming cap holds are renounced), but the front office has accumulated more than sufficient financial legroom to make more moves down the line. This one is a non-negotiable.
Plotting the dream offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers
Step 2: Be active and leverage on Draft night
The 76ers own three draft picks this year — their own first-rounder and two second-round selections through other teams. This gives the front office some leeway to consolidate assets and strike a deal or two before or come draft night.
The general consensus isn’t high on the 2024 draft class — a stark contrast to last year’s phenomenal batch. While Philadelphia could opt to go traditional and go for a swing pick using their own selection (which is expected to be in the 20s), the smarter move is to perhaps leverage their picks in exchange for more NBA-ready talent from teams currently in the bottom and would willingly move the needle for another infusion of young talent.
As for targets, the 76ers could look at the Pistons, Wizards, Hornets, Spurs, and Trail Blazers and zoom in on players they can pluck in exchange for draft capital. Alternatively, they can be more ambitious and attempt to package their picks as sweeteners for a more grandiose swap.
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.
Plotting the dream offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers
Step 4: Complements, complements
Philly’s offseason won’t stop at a third star. While their cap space would virtually be sapped if they do get a third star, the free agency market will be littered with great, experience role players at every price range who should be on the 76ers’ radar.
The 76ers own Bird rights to six of their eight impending free agents (excluding Maxey and two-way players), allowing them to go over the cap to re-sign them to new deals if they so desire. Among those, Nicolas Batum (assuming he doesn’t retire), Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Tobias Harris are their current heavy hitters. Extending those players would be difficult, but the 76ers at least have some control over their fate.
The team’s free agency prospects would of course be enhanced if they conversely miss out on a marquee addition. Either way, the 76ers mounted flexibility so significant that they would nevertheless be well-served if they go lucrative for one or for many.