Why The 76ers Could Aggressive In The Buyout Market
The Philadelphia 76ers failed to complete any trades to improve their roster at the trade deadline, and now could turn their attention to free agents in the buyout market. Philadelphia is in dire need of another guard after trading Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lonzo Ball and Jevon Carter are among the top names on the buyout market, and would fit the 76ers’ needs to a tee. Ball was traded to the Utah Jazz in what was a salary dump after they landed James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers. Carter, on the other hand, was waived by the Chicago Bulls a couple of days ago.
76ers Need Another Guard
Philadelphia has one of the most exciting and dynamic backcourts in basketball, but its depth is extremely thin should an injury occur. Quentin Grimes is the next man up off the bench, but after him, the dropoff is extreme. Kyle Lowry would be the only option left at guard if an injury occurs, and he is nowhere near good enough to be playing for any team in the NBA.
Tyrese Maxey plays the most minutes in the league, and Nick Nurse is going to need to find ways to get him off his feet as we get closer to the playoffs. Right now, Nurse cannot do that because if he were to sit Maxey, he’d have only two available guards: VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. Once again, Philadelphia shipping off Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder looks even worse as time goes on.
Lonzo Ball Is The Perfect Fit
With a more undersized backcourt, Lonzo Ball would bring some much-needed size and incredible defense to Philadelphia’s backcourt. He is not a great shooter by any means, but if he were rotated with the right playmakers, he’d fit right in. Ball wouldn’t be asked to do much on a nightly basis and could easily fill in should Tyrese Maxey need a day off, given his extensive starting experience with the Lakers, Pelicans, and Bulls.
Their loss against the Lakers proved that the 76ers desperately need a bigger guard who can defend and run the floor. Trendon Watford is not capable of leading the offense at a point in the game, and adding Lonzo Ball would help tremendously when Nick Nurse is rotating his players. Getting him for the league minimum would be an absolute steal, and Daryl Morey needs to be all over it.
What Other Options Are Out There
The Philadelphia 76ers also need some more depth when it comes to power forward, especially after losing Paul George for twenty-plus games. One of the best names available is PF Chris Boucher, who was waived by the Utah Jazz yesterday. Boucher will have the opportunity to sign with a playoff team and will draw significant interest. He’s averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in his nine-year NBA career.
The 76ers need to be highly aggressive in the buyout market to try to fill out their thin bench. If they want to have a chance to compete in the East come playoff time, their roster is nowhere near good enough right now. Joel Embiid is having an MVP-caliber season, and they cannot afford to waste another great year of his.
