Outside of the top stars, the only thing certain about the future of the Philadelphia 76ers roster is uncertainty.
Team president Daryl Morey emphasized that point Monday during his season-ending news conference following a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks. He promised “a lot of change” to the roster around All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. He also noted bench players Paul Reed and Ricky Council IV – who are on non-guaranteed contracts – as players who “will be back next year.”
Outside of these players and head coach Nick Nurse, Morey sounds ready for a dramatic overhaul in the search for a championship contender around Embiid and Maxey.
“We will have no continuity,” Morey told reporters. “We will have continuity with our stars and our head coach, but we will have a lot of changes this season. …
“We’re focused on Joel and Tyrese, and we’re focused on now.”
Who stays and who goes?
Morey’s statements confirm what is widely expected in Philadelphia: plans for a roster overhaul that leaves the status of starters and rotation players Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry, Nicolas Batum and Buddy Hield in doubt. None of them are under contract after last season.
Embiid is approaching the second season of a four-year, $213 million contract. Maxey will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of his four-year, $12 million rookie contract. The 76ers can and do match any competitive offer expected to sign him to a max extension this summer, following his breakout campaign in which he earned his first All-Star bid and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
76ers have cap flexibility to maneuver
That gives the 76ers plenty of flexibility to reshape their roster. According to Spotrac, the 76ers expect to have more than $55 million in available salary cap space this summer, the second-highest projection in the league behind the Detroit Pistons.
Other than renewing Maxey, how are they going to spend their money? According to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic: Morey said the team would prioritize a wing “who can play at a high level and perform in the playoffs,” a message that could reasonably be interpreted as aimed at Harris.
Harris just wrapped up a five-year, $180 million contract he signed with the 76ers after arriving from the Clippers via midseason trade in 2019. He averaged nine points per game this postseason while shooting 43.1% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. . He went scoreless in Philadelphia’s Game 6 elimination loss to the Knicks, attempting only two field goals.
Which free agents will the 76ers target?
Meanwhile, there is potential to secure a premium wing on the free-agent market this summer. Paul George has a player option on his contract with the Clippers and would be a free agent if he opts out.
Two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam previously played for Nurse in Toronto and is set to become a free agent. But the Pacers acquired his Bird Rights when they traded for Siakam, allowing them to go over the salary cap with a long-term offer. He is widely expected to stay with the Pacers if they make such an offer.
Another former Raptor, OG Anunoby, has a player option for next season with the Knicks. If he opts out and doesn’t reach an agreement with New York on an extension, would he consider joining the division rival Sixers and his former coach?
Then there’s LeBron James, the biggest wild card of the offseason. He also has a player option and has not committed to a return to the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems like a long shot for the 76ers, but they want to make a big impact. This would qualify.
Whatever decisions the 76ers make this summer, the pressure is on. Embiid is 30 and won’t be in his prime forever. Maxey is closing in on his and has shown in the postseason that he is ready for his big turn against a contender. The window for Philadelphia has now arrived, and it’s up to Morey to maximize this offseason.
