The Philadelphia 76ers are not done this offseason by any means. While one can pencil them in as the summer’s biggest winners, the roster is far from a finished product. Still facing a bunch of open roster spots, the team is remaining active in the open market, zooming in on players who can reliably contribute and help their title cause next season.
Naturally, other teams won’t be keen at cooperating and letting the 76ers just get what they want, but apparently, one franchise seems ready to do just that, albeit indirectly. Now, Philly has another realistic target it can snag off the free agency market.
The Raptors just gifted the 76ers the perfect free agency target in Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr., one of the league’s better three-point gunners, somehow remains unsigned in free agency, though reports point to that being a matter of his own volition. Apparently, the Toronto Raptors wanted to re-sign him to a multi-year deal amounting to $15 million annually, but the swingman wanted a figure around the ballpark of $25 million.
Unfortunately for him and his camp, the Raptors have since pulled that offer, and Trent now faces a dearth of options that can give him his desired payday. Most probably, he will now be forced to sign for a discounted rate on a one-year, prove-it deal in hopes of increasing his value for next year.
The 76ers, who are in dire need of backcourt ammunition, could present a compelling case as a potential destination. The team has an ideal dynamic that fits his particular skill set, and he will be led by a familiar face in Nick Nurse, who coached him briefly in Toronto.
If it helps him, Kelly Oubre Jr. did the same thing last summer, signing with the 76ers on a veteran’s minimum deal, eventually succeeding in his year-long audition for a much better pay. Trent would be in the same boat, and he can even be a bigger factor on the court than Oubre was last season.