The Philadelphia 76ers will enter the free-agency season with loads of cash to offer and promising young players to build around. In an interview with Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo admitted that not getting two lottery picks in this year’s draft has changed their plan for this off-season.
Had the Sixers acquired the Lakers’ lottery pick, Colangelo would have pushed for a ‘measured organic growth plan,’ allowing their young guys like Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to grow as a unit without putting heavy expectations of reaching the postseason.
Unfortunately for the Colangelo, the Lakers landed the no.2 overall pick for the third straight year, while his team settled with the no.3 pick. Pompey thinks the outcome of this week’s draft lottery only means the Sixers front-office will now aggressively look for veteran help either through trades or free-agency. "It might have put us in a position to rethink maybe one path, where we maybe might be more apt to go down the slower, more organic path. But we are going to have both opportunities available to us now. We are going to look at all those alternatives, all those options," Colangelo said of his game-plan via Philly Inquirer.
Lowry tops free-agency list
Pompey ran through potential free-agency targets for the Sixers this summer, and Toronto Raptors All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry surely tops the list.
In a separate article, Pompey provided the reasons why Lowry is an intriguing free-agency acquisition for the Sixers. “He'll provide instant credibility and will recruit other A-list free agents to the Sixers. Let's face it, the Sixers need a player of his stature to bring relevance. Although he might not be there for a title run, he could get them to the next level,” Pompey said of Lowry’s potential FA impact for Philadelphia.
Lowry is coming off another All-Star caliber season, as he averaged 22.4 points and 7.0 assists per game during the 2016/17 regular-season. The 11-year vet is eligible for a contract worth at least $30MM per year, although it’s no guarantee the Raptors will shell out that amount of money for a 31-year old point guard. As for his interest to play with the Sixers, Pompey disclosed the former Villanova standout has been seriously considering Philadelphia among potential destinations if he bolts out from the Raps.
“Sources have said the North Philly native has been interested in playing for the Sixers for some time,” per Pompey’s report.
Other FA targets
Aside from Lowry, Pompey also mentioned floor-spacers like J.J Redick Danillo Gallinari, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Otto Porter as other FA targets for the Sixers. With Embiid expected to draw multiple defenders down-low, it’s a priority for Colangelo to surround him with accurate shooters. Redick, who is a career 41 percent shooter from the 3-point line, will likely command an offer worth at least $18MM per year. Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical of Yahoo Sports already confirmed the Sixers are one of the teams interested for his service.
