The Philadelphia 76ers were a shot away from, at least, forcing overtime on the road vs. Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors, but, as you may know by now, the Klaw got the last laugh with a shooter’s roll.
The team was rumored to fire Brett Brown if they failed to make the finals, but also, they face the risk of losing JJ Redick, Jimmy Butler, and Tobias Harris in the summer so they may look like a much different team than the one that almost made it to the ECF.
There’s no doubt that they need to make the most of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons while they’re still young, so Elton Brand has a lot of thinking to do about who’s he going to try and sign in the summer. Today, we’ll give him a hand by listing the 5 players the Sixers should consider signing:
5. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose’s start of the season was one for the ages and he was back at his best. Just when everybody thought he was bound for a Sixth Man of the Year award, injuries took him out of the game again.
Still, he could be a great offensive spark for this team. He’s the kind of veteran leader they’ve craved for years, can create his own shot, facilitate for others, and well, he’ll pull up from three, unlike Simmons.
4. Nikola Mirotic
Nikola Mirotic was playing the best ball of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans, but injuries took a major toll on his plans for the season. Still, he was great and showed glimpses of a sweet shooting stroke when healthy.
Mirotic may not be the best defender, but he’s taken great strides in that regard over the last season and a half. He’s a solid passer, can speed up the pace, and stretch the floor, as well as play both forward spots.
3. Patrick Beverley
Patrick Beverley earned a huge contract for the way he guarded Kevin Durant in the playoffs. We all know he’s one of the best backcourt defenders in the world, and he’d fit perfectly with the Sixers’ culture.
Moreover, he’s a decent three-point shooter, can play the two-guard, and even run the point when defenses expose Ben Simmons’ lack of range. Also, he may not want to be around if the Clippers sign Kyrie Irving.
2. JJ Redick
While Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris are better players than Redick, they’re unlikely to be able to keep them beyond this season. JJ, on the other hand, could agree to stay put for, at least, an extra couple of years.
However, they need to convince him to come off the bench. They need an offensive spark in the second unit, and he was a major defensive liability with the starters. That’s a lot of ifs, but it’s worth a try.
Read More
The Boston Celtics’ Plan If Kyrie Irving Leave This Summer
5 NBA Players That Will Earn A Lot Of Money This Summer
NBA Rumors: 4 Players That Could Leave The Boston Celtics This Summer
1. Julius Randle
Julius Randle had a breakout year with the New Orleans Pelicans. He stepped up big time when Anthony Davis was unable or unwilling to pay and proved that he can play with a high pace and be productive in both ends of the floor.
An Embiid-Randle frontcourt would be a tough pill to swallow for opposing scorers. They’re both physical, can put the ball on the floor, and even knock down an occasional three, and he’s still quite young.
