The Philadelphia 76ers had another disappointing finish to a season, as they were bounced from the 2022 NBA Playoffs in the second round. It was the fourth time in five years that they were eliminated from the postseason in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, as they just cannot get over the hump.
The acquisition of James Harden at the trade deadline didn’t provide the boost that Daryl Morey was hoping for as Harden looked sluggish at times in the postseason. He was unable to raise his game to another level when Joel Embiid was sidelined.
Heading into the offseason, the 76ers will be looking to upgrade the roster to become legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. They will have to get creative when doing so as they are capped out, but they cannot waste prime years of Embiid.
Philadelphia should have some clear-cut targets in free agency to help them achieve that goal. One possibility is Tyus Jones of the Memphis Grizzlies. The 76ers could use some help on their second unit and Jones is one of the best backup point guards in the NBA.
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Jones also excelled when called upon to step into the starting lineup for Ja Morant. He played well no matter the role that was asked of him and will be a popular target for teams looking for point guard help this offseason.
But, the 76ers are likely going to be aiming higher in free agency. There have already been rumors swirling about the team looking to add a third star to the mix this offseason. Two possible targets could emerge in free agency in Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal.
LaVine is an unrestricted free agent and it no longer seems like a formality that he will be returning to the Chicago Bulls. While it may seem unrealistic, a sign-and-trade for LaVine could be possible if the 76ers can find a team willing to take on the contract of Tobias Harris to make things work financially.
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Harris would have to be on the move to bring in Beal as well. While Beal has given no indication that he wants to leave the Washington Wizards, he has been the name speculated to be joining the 76ers since they pulled off the deal for Harden ahead of the trade deadline.
Adding either All-Star would provide Philadelphia with a scary offensive trio for opponents to try and slow down. If they can hold onto someone such as Tyrese Maxey in these scenarios as well, they are that much closer to being contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
