The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into this offseason with up to $70 million in potential cap space and a mission to rebuild a championship contender around Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. With such significant cap space, the team is linked to nearly every big name rumored to be available.
Even before the season concluded, the 76ers were rumored to be interested in Paul George. They’ve also been mentioned as a dark-horse candidate for LeBron James and a potential disruptor in the plans of the Miami Heat and New York Knicks to secure Jimmy Butler and OG Anunoby.
Each of these players comes with a hefty price tag, but they could significantly impact as a third star alongside Maxey and Embiid. So, who among them would be the best fit for the 76ers?
4. LeBron James on Philadelphia 76ers’ Target
LeBron James is undoubtedly the biggest name the 76ers could pursue this offseason, but on paper, he might be the worst fit. With Maxey and Embiid, the 76ers already have a strong interior defensive anchor and an elite pick-and-roll duo. The key components they need are shooting, defensive versatility, and additional creation.
LeBron has shown flashes of being an effective spot-up shooter and has occasionally played at an All-Defense level. However, his best defensive days are behind him. Investing in him primarily as a spot-up shooter and tertiary creator behind Embiid and Maxey seems like overkill. Despite his talent, LeBron wouldn’t be the best fit for creating a deep, well-rounded rotation.
3. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler brings similar challenges as LeBron, with different strengths and weaknesses. He’s a capable complementary creator, which worked well during his previous stint with the 76ers, although Tyrese Maxey is a much different third star than Ben Simmons. Butler remains a strong defender who can handle multiple matchups, but his durability and regular-season consistency are concerns.
The major issue with Butler is his limited impact as a spot-up shooter around Maxey-Embiid pick-and-rolls. The 76ers would need to ensure they have two other strong 3-point shooters in their five-man lineup for this to work. Butler’s aggressiveness and intensity could benefit the 76ers, but his age, injury history, and shooting range make him a less clean fit.
2. OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby might be the biggest longshot, as he seems likely to re-sign with the Knicks. However, on paper, he’s close to an ideal fit for the 76ers.
Anunoby is an elite defender with the size and strength to guard multiple positions, from guards to small ball 4s. While his 3-point shooting was inconsistent early in his career, he’s made 38.3% of his 3s over the past five seasons, making him a reliable shooter in a 3-and-D role.
Though he’s the least polished self-creator among the four options, this is arguably the least critical skill the 76ers need. At 26, Anunoby still has room for growth, especially in attacking closeouts from the corner.
1. Paul George
Paul George stands out as the best fit among the rumored targets. He’s the most reliable shooter, well-accomplished as a self-creator, and versatile on defense. Although he lacks the playoff heroics of Jimmy Butler, George is still highly effective on both ends of the floor. His durability is a concern, but it’s comparable to that of the other players on this list.
Adding any of these four stars could propel the 76ers back into contention in the Eastern Conference. However, this would only be the first of many crucial moves needed. The 76ers also need to address frontcourt depth, shooting, defense at every position, ancillary creators, and another bench scorer.
The 76ers have a clear vision of the type of star they want to pair with Embiid and Maxey. Still, there is plenty of work to do to build a complete, competitive roster around them.
Source: Fansided
