Stay Or Go: Predicting Future of 76ers' Free Agents
Soon enough, the Philadelphia 76ers will have the opportunity to begin building out their roster for the 2023-2024 NBA season.
One of their first steps will be deciding whether or not to retain certain players they had on board last season. And for a few players, they will have the opportunity to control whether or not they return as a player option gives them the flexibility to decide.
Excluding the two-way prospects, the Sixers had eight players who could potentially leave during the offseason when they came up short against the Boston Celtics during the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs last month.
As we know now, the Sixers’ veteran wing Danuel House decided early to pick up his player option with the team for next season. The two-way sharpshooter will make over $4 million for the year in his return.
Aside from House, the Sixers have seven other players who could return or hit the free agency market to find a new home. Who could stay, and who could go?
76ers center Dewayne Dedmon
Dwayne Dedmon
Unrestricted Free Agent
The Sixers acquired Dedmon after the trade deadline went into place. The veteran big man was moved from the Miami Heat to the San Antonio Spurs before getting cut loose to become a free agent. At the time, the Sixers were going back and forth between Montrezl Harrell and Paul Reed behind Joel Embiid.
With Doc Rivers undecided on his go-to guy off the bench for the eventual playoff run, the Sixers brought in Dewayne Dedmon to bring veteran experience and competition at the position. Opportunities to play hardly existed for the big man. He appeared in eight games, averaging nine minutes on the court. Dedmon played just one postseason game, picking up garbage time minutes. I think it’s safe to assume that Dedmon’s run in Philly was a one-time opportunity.
Verdict: Go
76ers center Paul Reed
Paul Reed
Restricted Free Agent
Paul Reed’s first three seasons with the Sixers have been somewhat of a roller coaster. During his rookie season, Reed was dominating the G League, earning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. When his sophomore effort rolled around, Reed struggled to get playing time for most of the season before being the primary backup behind Joel Embiid down the stretch of the playoff run.
Reed’s third season in Philadelphia was similar to his second, but it featured more opportunities to compete during the regular season. The young veteran appeared in 69 games, averaging 11 minutes on the floor. He put up four points per game while coming down with four rebounds per game.
His regular season performance was solid when he had the chance to play, but his playoff performances — especially during the first round — likely created a more extensive market demand for Reed’s services. In 11 postseason matchups, Reed averaged five points, four rebounds, one steal, and 0.4 blocks in an average of 14 minutes of action.
The Sixers will have an opportunity to match another team’s offer to Reed. The question now becomes will another team price the big man out of Philadelphia’s range? Reed has mentioned he would like to return to the Sixers, and it’s hard to imagine they want to let one of their few developing draft picks flourish elsewhere.
Verdict: Stay
76ers wing Jalen McDaniels
Jalen McDaniels
Unrestricted Free Agent
The former Charlotte Hornets draft pick came to Philly midway through the 2022-2023 season. McDaniels became the replacement for Matisse Thybulle. At the time of the trade, the Sixers hoped that McDaniels could bring more of a boost on offense while not taking a significant hit on defense in the absence of Thybulle, who was an immediate lock-down defender since being drafted to Philadelphia.
When Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey discussed the deal, he mentioned that the Sixers made the move with the playoffs in mind. As Thybulle received criticism for his struggles in the past postseason, the Sixers hoped that McDaniels would give them a boost this time around.
It’s safe to say that plan didn’t work out in the end. While McDaniels made eight appearances during the Sixers’ playoff run, he failed to see the court for three of the Sixers’ last four playoff games in the second round against the Boston Celtics.
Morey made it clear from the beginning that the Sixers hope to keep McDaniels around long-term, but the Sixers aren’t going to be the only team interested in his services. Not only did McDaniels reportedly have several teams inquiring for him beyond the Sixers ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, but he is expected to be pursued by teams such as the Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Several young veterans on the Sixers will gain attention on the open market, but McDaniels might be the most popular prospect in the group. It won’t be easy, but the Sixers might do all they can to get their mid-season acquisition back for another run.
Verdict: Stay
76ers guard Shake Milton
Shake Milton
Unrestricted Free Agent
Shake Milton has had quite the roller coaster ride of a run in Philadelphia. There were times he was just a G League prospect. There were times when Milton was the starting point guard on a playoff squad. Then, like this year’s playoff run, there were times when Milton wasn’t in the rotation.
The combination of being on a talented roster with a lot of competition and Doc Rivers’ lack of trust and patience in non-star players affected Milton over the last couple of seasons.
Last season, we saw flashes of what Milton can bring to the table with a steady role. It’s hard to imagine there isn’t a team out there that sees him as a reliable reserve. Milton was a good sport in Philadelphia even when his role was uncertain, but it might be about time he got a fresh start and an opportunity to prove himself in a different situation.
Verdict: Go
76ers veteran Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell
Player Option
The veteran big man could return to the Sixers and make $2.7 million if he picks up his player option, but both parties might want a mutual split. The reunion between Harrell, Rivers, and Harden did not go as planned.
As a result, Harrell was left with an inconsistent role throughout the season, which eventually left him out of the rotation when the playoffs rolled around. Since his impressive four-year run with the Los Angeles Clippers, Harrell has struggled to stay with one team, having stints with the Lakers, Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets prior to joining the Sixers.
It’s up to Harrell to decide whether he wants to play for the Sixers next season or not, but it might be safe to assume the trend will continue, and he’ll seek other options over the summer.
Verdict: Go
76ers forward Georges Niang
Georges Niang
Unrestricted Free Agent
Niang will be a player the Sixers will likely think long and hard about this offseason after inking him as an unrestricted free agent two summers ago after his run with the Utah Jazz. On one hand, Niang is a reliable three-point shooter who brings high energy off the bench and leadership in the locker room.
On the other hand, Niang’s defense has always come into question, especially when it comes to the postseason. It was apparent that Doc Rivers thought highly of Niang, but it’s unclear what Nick Nurse thinks about the reserve.
Considering Niang averaged 40 percent from three throughout his career, staying on par with that average over the last two seasons with the Sixers, he won’t have trouble finding other interested suitors if the Sixers are ready to move on. Money will be tight, and the Sixers have to start prioritizing some of their young veterans with the distant future in mind.
Verdict: Go
76ers guard James Harden
James Harden
Player Option
James Harden has the most expensive player option on the Sixers. Funny enough, Harden’s $35.6 million is considered a discount. At this point, everybody is under the impression that Harden will decline that option and seek out a multi-year contract that is aligned with his more expensive desires following his self-described season of sacrifice with the Sixers.
Daryl Morey said himself that Philadelphia’s top priority this offseason is getting Harden back to compete alongside Joel Embiid as they’ve established themselves as one of the NBA’s most dominant duos.
If the Sixers struggle to make that happen, they would be in a tough place missing the NBA’s previous assist leader while lacking the funds to replace him with another notable star, which would place tons of pressure on Tyrese Maxey to fill the void.
So far, it seems the Sixers are in a two-team race to land Harden, competing with the Rockets. On paper today, the Sixers seem like the most logical landing spot for Harden since his goal is to play for a championship contender next season.
But the ten-time All-Star is probably waiting to see Houston’s pitch. So far, the Rockets hired Ime Udoka, who has a previous relationship with Harden as he coached the star guard during their tenure with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Rockets also have the space to get creative in free agency and also possess a top-five pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which gives them the flexibility to either draft a potential star or trade the pick for immediate upgrades.
We can say the Rockets don’t make sense for the aging star, and this could all be a ploy to convince the Sixers to break the bank for Harden all we want, but there is too much smoke out in Houston to ignore. I don’t think Harden’s return to Houston is the guarantee it was made out to be throughout the year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the end, they put together a roster intriguing enough for Harden to want to return “home” and play his way.
