Heading into the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have a top scoring superstar duo in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. As a result of their ascension this past season, Philly is in the strongest position to land a big-time free agent, heading into a franchise-defining summer with $65 million to spend. This makes the Sixers the richest and most interesting team. Combine that with other teams being cash strapped, and the Sixers front office has no excuses. All of those factors make Philly the most important team to watch this offseason.
2024 NBA Offseason Preview: What’s Next For The 76ers?
Season Recap
The 2023-24 regular season was a gap year for the Philadelphia 76ers. It started off with the biggest question being, would James Harden stay or go? In addition, was there about to be another standoff between the Sixers organization and a star player? The Sixers shipped Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. With that problem solved they got to work during the season. Also, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey had the best seasons of their respective careers. As a result of his great season, Maxey was named the 2024 Most Improved Player.
However, both players had various injuries and Philly only won 47 games. Philly won 31 games and had eight losses when Embiid played this year. Keeping both him and Maxey healthy was a huge problem this season, which put them in the Play-In Tournament. They were able to get past the Miami Heat, but they were not able to beat the New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Despite that disappointing ending to the season. Philly now has a superstar duo to build around with the ascension of Embiid and Maxey as his running mate/eventual successor.
Projected Cap Space and Draft Pick
The 76ers will have an estimated $65-million dollars in cap space. In addition, it could increase to $70-millon dollars. If they make other moves before the free agency period starts in July. That amount of money makes them the richest contender and a rival for any team trying to keep a disgruntled star player or franchise piece.
16th Pick in the 2024 NBA Draft
Primary Targets
Philly currently has the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a result of their draft position, they can select a future star of the team or use it as a trade chip to get a superstar or role player to fit alongside Embiid and Maxey.
Additionally, if the Sixers keep the pick, they are in desperate need of younger players who can play defense and hit three-pointers. Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, and Tristan de Silva are ideal players for that. In addition, they will get plenty of spot up opportunities, thanks to the defensive attention that both Embiid and Maxey garner and the high-percentage opportunities they create for their teammates.
If the Sixers are not able to make a draft day trade, not leaving the draft with one of those three players would be foolish.
In addition, Philly also needs players who are not afraid to get up there and rebound. Both Kel’el Ware and Yves Missi fit the bill of players who can get rebounds when necessary.
However, the Sixers only have one first-round pick. So, they need to either trade back into the first-round or use a second-round pick on one of these players if one of them falls that far in the draft.
Pending Free Agents
- Tyrese Maxey (restricted)
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Tobias Harris
- Buddy Hield
- De’Anthony Melton
- Kyle Lowry
- Cameron Payne
- Nicolas Batum
The reason the Sixers have so much cap space is because they have a lot of free agents. The biggest free agent for the Sixers is Tyrese Maxey, who should get a big contract extension or supermax deal. After that, it is a matter of which of these role players work better next to Embiid and Maxey. Philly should prioritize bringing back Nicolas Batum, Kelly Oubre Jr., Buddy Hield, Kyle Lowry (Vet minimum deal), and Cameron Payne (Vet minimum deal). All of these players would benefit from another season playing next to and off of Embiid and Maxey. They bring critical veteran leadership or meet a need for the Sixers.
Trade Pieces
- 16th Pick
- 2028 unprotected First Round Pick from the Clippers
- Multiple Second Round Picks
Usually, the Sixers have some tradeable pieces available to entice teams to trade with them. They do not have many valuable assets this year, the only valuable thing being that 2028 unprotected pick from the Clippers. Philly will need to make most of their deals in free agency.
Realistic Offseason Targets/Free Agents
The Paul George of it All
If the Sixers really do decide to go star hunting this offseason, the player that has been linked to them most has been Paul George. Also, with rumors swirling that the Clippers are not willing to give George more than a two-year deal, it seems realistic that George might be in a Sixers uniform in October. George would be the ideal player next to Embiid and Maxey.
Being a second or third option suits him very well. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and a really great defender. Additionally, if the Sixers can sign him to a three-year deal. That does not hinder their ability to get role players who can space the floor, play defense, and shoot it makes the most sense.
Malik Monk
Another cheaper target the 76ers can get is Malik Monk. He is a talented player who has never seen a shot he did not like. Acquiring Monk would give the Sixers one of the best scoring backcourts in the league. He scored 15.4 points per game, averaged five assists per game, and made 35% of his three-point attempts. For perspective that would rank him as the second best three-point shooter the Sixers had on the roster behind Tyrese Maxey (36%). Monk is an ideal starter or sixth man off the bench, especially if the Sixers have an opening in the starting line-up at shooting guard. That could be an attractive offer for Monk who is looking to be a starter and not just a sixth man off the bench.
As a result of some shrewd moves the 76ers have at least $65 million to spend. If they can find a way to get a third option who can score the ball—along with some role players who can fill out the bench and play alongside Embiid and Maxey—the Sixers will have a title contender in the loaded Eastern Conference.
