Cost Effective Free Agents for the Sixers to Pursue if Harden Returns
The Sixers appear as if they will be over the cap next season, having access to only the mid-level exception and veteran minimum signings in free agency to supplement the core of Embiid, Harden, and Maxey. Given the lack of cap space, here are some potentially affordable free agents for either the mid-level exception or the vet minimum.
Mid-Level Exception Targets:
Harrison Barnes: Barnes has been a key NBA role player for years now, obviously playing a key role in the Warriors' first championship in the Curry era, before being traded to help get Kevin Durant. Barnes is a solid jack-of-all-trades type player, similar to Tobias Harris, although not as efficient which is why he might be gettable at this price. Barnes could either start over PJ Tucker or preferably come off the bench with De’Anthony Melton to form the best bench duo the team has had in a long time.
Caris Levert: Levert is not a great fit for the team in terms of play style, but a very talented player who could be in line for a bounce-back year after inconsistent minutes in Cleveland. Talent beats fit in my opinion, and if the team can’t bring in a similarly talented three-and-D wing then it's hard to find a more talented player than Levert for the mid-level.
Will Barton: Solid vet that can provide leadership as well as decent three-and-D play. Not my first option, but if someone like Barnes is unavailable you could do a lot worse than Barton.
Christian Wood: It’s hard to understand how an athletic big with these stats and the ability to stretch the floor can’t get a starting role for a Mavs team that didn’t make the playoffs. But if Wood is truly this undervalued around the league, then the Sixers can’t possibly do better for the mid-level exception. Melton and Wood would significantly elevate the bench and give the Sixers a real chance to compete against Boston, Miami, and Milwaukee.
Kelly Oubre/Dillon Brooks: These players fit the team for virtually the same reason. While both are generally pretty inefficient from the field, they also take difficult shots and can get hot from three and score in transition. But the main reason the Sixers could be interested is their hard-nosed physical brand of defense and athleticism which would help prevent Jayson Tatum from making a 51-point outburst in the playoffs.
Vet Minimum:
Kevin Love: Love has made the playoffs five times in his career and made the Finals each time. While LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler certainly factor into the equation here, Love has clearly elevated his team performances with high IQ play, a willingness to sacrifice stats and role for the good of the team, as well as great rebounding and three-point shooting. In terms of players potentially available for the vet minimum, you can not do better.
Derrick Rose: Rose wouldn’t play a whole lot for the team but would compete with Jaden Springer for spot minutes at point guard when Melton, Maxey, or Harden miss a game. He is also somewhat similar to Springer and Maxey in terms of build and athleticism, so hopefully he could assist their continued development too.
Seth Curry: I doubt Seth would be quite so cheap, but he also struggled to carve out a role on a poor Nets team. If he is available for cheap, well, the Sixers or any team could definitely use such an accomplished sharpshooter off the bench.
Jeff Green: Green looks to be about 100 years old, and it seems like he has been in the NBA since its inception, but he still has a decent amount to give a team. Still putting down the highlight dunk, Green plays extremely hard and is a jack-of-all-trades player capable and willing to fill any role to help a team and be a leader in the locker room.
