Sixers look to add pieces for championship run
The 76ers are coming off of their best season since 2000-01, when they went to the NBA Finals carried by All-Star point guard Allen Iverson. They won 52 games this season and, for the most part, had a healthy Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The player that did not get much playing time was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft Markelle Fultz. Despite the lack of playing time, when Fultz did touch the court, he looked promising.
Coming into free agency, Philadelphia has all their cards on the table and a lot to pitch to this year’s free agent class. They are a young, promising team with All-Star players and a head coach that took this team to the playoffs after finishing last season with only 28 wins. To know where the Sixers were the past five years, to now see them make serious pitches to the top players in the game is remarkable.
LeBron James
The obvious one.
It’s no secret that the 76ers are interested in the 14-time All-Star. James is coming off of his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance. Despite the love and passion he has towards the city of Cleveland, belief is that he has played his last game in a Cavaliers uniform. Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid wasted no time recruiting James to come to Philadelphia, as he tweeted him directly after his Finals loss to the Warriors, encouraging him to join the Sixers.
Adding James to the Sixers lineup would easily make them the favorites to come out of the East. Philadelphia is believed to be one of James’ teams he will consider this offseason.
Tyreke Evans
Evans is the type of player that could replace J.J. Redick in the starting lineup if he is not re-signed. Shooting over 39 percent from 3-point range, Evans is a solid two-way player that could be a tremendous help for the Sixers. He averaged over 19 points per game last season and was a huge contributor for the Grizzlies. Sixers need more help from the guard positions, and adding a player like Evans would only help the team closer to the ultimate goal.
Avery Bradley
One of the best defensive players available in Free Agency this season, Bradley is well known for his days in Boston but spent last season with the Pistons and Clippers. Despite having J.J. Redick and Robert Covington, the Sixers still lacked some outside shooting that affected them in the playoffs. Bradley is a well respected shooter from behind the arc.
Adding a player in Bradley would not only help their 3-point game but make them even more dangerous on the defensive side of the ball.
Paul George
A two-way player that will give you everything you need to put your team over the top, George would make a lot of sense for the Sixers as he’s a huge threat on the offensive side of the ball and can lock down any player on defense. Out of all the available free agents, he would fit best with the Sixers and have the team competing for a championship.
George shot over 40 percent from the perimeter while averaging 21.9 points per game this season despite playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
Will Barton
Barton is somebody who intrigues me the most. He has proven over the last few seasons that he can impact the game in ways very few can off the bench. Barton impacts the game offensively by not only putting the ball in the hoop but finding open players, as he averaged 4.1 assist this season.
Barton started the final 13 games for the Nuggets and averaged 19.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest on over 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. He is at the point in his career where he can be a starter and make an immediate impact in Philadelphia.
