The Philadelphia 76ers must aggressively add talent around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this NBA offseason. The team has yet to not only reach the Eastern Conference finals in the Embiid era but hasn’t accomplished it as an organization since 2001 with Allen Iverson.
Expectations were high after the 76ers traded for James Harden, but the pairing proved short-lived before he opted to depart for the LA Clippers via trade request. Maxey has clearly emerged as a star player, but there is a lack of talent in the supporting cast.
The 76ers already need to add talent on the wing. Still, with Tobias Harris‘ likely departure, reconfiguring the roster using the significant salary cap space this summer becomes all the more viable. Philadelphia is already being linked as a potential suitor for veteran wing players who could become available.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the 76ers are monitoring names including Klay Thompson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Zach LaVine. Thompson and Caldwell-Pope can reach free agency this summer while LaVine is included in the trade market.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors Updates
Thompson has already been linked to the leading teams with a significant amount of salary cap spending room, including the Orlando Magic. Philadelphia is in that mix, considering the team is expected to have $55.5 million in cap space. Depending on how contract talks go this summer, he remains a name teams are monitoring around the league until there is greater clarity about his situation.
Caldwell-Pope has a player option for next season. Various league personnel who have spoken to NBA Analysis Network expect the Denver Nuggets to face significant challenges in retaining Pope if he prioritizes maximizing his earning potential on the open market.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors Updates
Among the challenges the 76ers could face with either Thompson or Caldwell-Pope is the lack of versatility they present as scoring options. Buddy Hield was acquired from the Indiana Pacers midseason due to his sharpshooting ability, but the one-dimensional nature of his scoring presented unexpected limitations for the organization.
“At no fault of Buddy’s, the fit was less good than I thought,” 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said during his media exit interview. “Obviously, most of his time was without Joel. But I thought when Joel was back that his impact and his shooting, that’d he’d get more open shots, he didn’t.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors Updates
LaVine’s name has been frequently inserted into trade rumors lately, but that was tabled ahead of the NBA midseason deadline in February after he underwent season-ending surgery on his right foot, which presented a four-to-six-month recovery timetable.
The obvious risk with LaVine is his extensive injury history coupled with having a five-year, $215 million contract. His production has not met the value of his deal, and further potential injury complications could put the acquiring team in a significant financial conundrum.
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