The Sixers are entering the most important offseason that they’ve had in a very long time. This could be the turning point for the “Process”, or it could be the offseason that will bring mediocrity to this Sixers team leaving us back where we started. Last week we previewed the offseason with some important questions that must be answered before the start of next season. Now we will focus on which players in free agency Bryan Colangelo will be able to lure to Philadelphia.
OUTLOOK: The Sixers are the worst team in basketball. Bryan Colangelo may help with trying to attract players to the organization but don’t expect anything big.
Below are the tiers of this off-season’s free agency.
High Level Players:
| AGE | POSITION | NAME | LIKELIHOOD |
| 28 | PG | Mike Conley | 15% |
| 22 | SG | Bradley Beal (R) | 10% |
| 26 | SG | DeMar DeRozan | 5% |
Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant are the crown jewels of the offseason but if we are being realistic, they are not going to be Sixers next year. DeRozan is a pipedream as well but they do have a slight chance if the lottery rules in favor of the Sixers and they are able to put together a compelling young team on paper.
Beal is definitely worth a tender but he is restricted and it would be surprising if the Wizards did not match any offer. Although it is not a great likelihood, Conley is the most logical signing out of these top tier players. He is older at 28, and he does come with durability concerns, but if the Sixers want to make a leap, a top defensive veteran like Conley would be a wise choice. Plus it could end the seemingly never ending carousel at point guard.
Mid-Level Players:
| AGE | POSITION | NAME | LIKELIHOOD |
| 26 | SG | Dion Waiters | 60% |
| 23 | SG | Austin Rivers (P) | 40% |
| 27 | SG | Eric Gordon | 20% |
| 25 | SG | Terrence Ross | 20% |
| 26 | PG | Brandon Jennings | 5% |
Waiters and Rivers (has a player option this offseason) are two players that have not yet been afforded the opportunity to reach their scoring potential. The Sixers, with their lack of talent at the 2 guard position, could give one of these the guys the chance to grow. In addition, Waiters is a local kid who has expressed interest in returning home to play for his hometown team.
Gordon and Jennings were once regarded as max contract-type players, but now after a myriad of injuries, they could be looking at their last contract. There is no denying that they have talent, but it would be wise to look elsewhere.
Finally Ross might be the most intriguing free agent in this whole class. He is a top notch athlete at the shooting guard position who has shown some potential as a solid scoring threat. The emergence of DeRozan sort of blocked Ross’s progression and the Sixers could be the team that helps Ross reach his relatively high ceiling.
Low Level Players:
| AGE | POSITION | NAME | LIKELIHOOD |
| 31 | PG | Gary Neal | 40% |
| 28 | PG | DJ Augustine | 35% |
| 31 | PG | Raymond Felton | 30% |
| 28 | SG | OJ Mayo | 15% |
| 28 | SF | Wesley Johnson | 10% |
If Colangelo is smart, then he would look into signing one of these three point guards. Each one of them are solid veterans with playoff experience. The Sixers are hoping to jump into playoff contention next year and it would help to have one of these three guys. Mayo and Johnson each were once highly regarded NBA prospects. Now they could be classified as busts, particularly Mayo. The interest in those players should be minimal for the Sixers but if they need to fill a final roster spot with a veteran, both would fit as possible candidates.
In the end, the offseason really starts with the NBA lottery. If the Sixers get two top five picks in this draft, the teams’ outlook would look wildly bright. Once that domino falls, the Sixers’ summer will become much clearer.
Photo credit: StandingOSports.com
