The buzz around the NBA superstar Lebron James continues, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers are considered the frontrunners to land James, but recently, the Golden State Warriors have been a team to watch over the last couple of days.
The 76ers are still in the hunt for James, but if he decides to go elsewhere, there are still plenty of solid free agents out there to fill out the Philadelphia’s last roster spot. They can only offer the veterans minimum deal, which would be $3.9 million, so it limits their options. With that being said, we take a look at potential fits for the 76ers if James does not come to Philadelphia on the veteran’s minimum.
Potential Free Agents For the 76ersÂ
Draymond Green
The first player that could be an option is a former 76er who would come back to Philadelphia, and that is Draymond Green. Green’s stats are solid, but his energy on defense fits exactly what the 76ers need. Green never developed a strong offensive game, but he can be one of the best defenders in the entire league, and he could absolutely help the 76ers defensively off the bench or even as a starter, but he would have to be willing to take the Minimum deal. Â
Nicolas Batum
The next player is Nicolas Batum, another former 76er. Batum had big moments with the 76ers as he scored 20 points in a Play-In game against the Heat to send the 76ers to the playoffs. If he can just make an impact when he gets in the game, this could be a decent signing for a win-now mindset team. Batum is 37 years old and played a bit in France, but he could still have a solid impact.Â
DeMar DeRozan
Another player who is less likely to take the minimum is DeMar DeRozan. If the 76ers can somehow get DeRozan, he would start in place of Dean Wade, who would get moved to the bench. Derozan averaged 18.4 points per game last season, and despite being 36 years old, he would be a phenomenal signing if he is willing to take the minimum and join a 76ers squad that is starving to make a championship run.Â
Nick Richards
The last player that makes sense for the 76ers is Nick Richards. Richards’ stats do not pop off the chart, but he provides size and is an affordable center still under 30 years old. Yes, this would mean the 76ers would have four Centers on the roster with Joel Embiid, Ariel Hukporti, Adem Bona, and now Richards. Still, Embiid also struggles with injuries every season, and Bona and Hukporti are both competing for backup minutes along with Johni Broome, who is struggling with injuries and has struggled to adjust to the NBA-level competition.
Depth at the center position is never too much for the 76ers, but the guard room is crowded, and it is highly unlikely the 76ers would use the final roster spot to get a guard if they do not land James. Who do you think the 76ers should sign if LeBron goes somewhere else?
Main Image: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
