Although the madness has already ensued around the league, today marks the official start of the NBA free agency period. Teams will be dishing out mind boggling amounts of money, but the Sixers are rumored to be seeking one-year deals with any free agent signings. This makes a ton of sense for a team that doesn’t really know what they have in their young roster yet, and doesn’t want to over commit to free agents that won’t contribute much when Philly is a title contender. With this plan in mind, here are five free agents the Sixers should target in free agency:
J.J. Redick- Shooting Guard
The Sixers are in desperate need of a three point threat off the bench and the deadeye shooter J.J. Redick certainly fits the bill. A career 41% three point shooter, the 33-year old Redick is looking to cash in on what will likely be his last big payday. Although there is mutual interest between the marksman and the Sixers, Philly may not be willing to offer the multi-year deal Redick desires. The Sixers could get creative; however, and offer the former Blue Devil a one-year deal in the range of $20M with a team option worth around the same amount for next season. It seems a bit unlikely the team will be able to land him, but Redick would provide some much needed shooting, defense, and leadership to the upcoming Sixers.
Arron Afflalo- Shooting Guard
Despite being released by the Sacramento Kings, the 31-year old Afflalo still has a lot to offer a team. The veteran shooting guard shot 41% from beyond the arc last season, a slight uptick from his career 38% average. After being released, Afflalo is likely willing to sign a one-year deal to boost his value and enter free agency again next year. This makes the Sixers an ideal landing spot for the knockdown shooter, and I believe he could provide the similar production as Redick off the bench for a lower price.
PJ Tucker- Small Forward
Tucker has excelled in his role as a “3 and D” guy in the NBA and could take his services to Philly next. Tucker is a team-first player and would thrive as a rotational piece for the Sixers. The team could definitely stand to add a lockdown defender that can knock down the three with ease, and should pursue the fairly inexpensive forward.
Mike Dunleavy Jr- Small Forward
Sensing a trend here? Another deadeye shooter finds his way on the list- this time in the form of Mike Dunleavy Jr. Dunleavy is another team-first guy that could provide some floor spacing for the second unit. The 6’9 forward carries a 37%, including a career high 42% in his brief thirty game stint with the Hawks last season. At 36 years old it’s easy to envision Dunleavy taking a one-year deal just to keep his career alive, and the Sixers should consider adding him as a mentor and three-point specialist.
Taj Gibson- Power Forward
Gibson has been an incredibly productive role player his entire career and would be a welcome edition in Philly. The Sixers seem to be willing to let Okafor develop off the bench, and pairing him the a hard-nosed defensive big like Gibson could do wonders for him. Gibson will hold Okafor, as well as the rest of the team, accountable on defense and can kind of serve as an on-court coach on that side of the ball. The 32-year old likely doesn’t have many chances to cash in left, so Philly can likely land him on a hefty one-year pact.
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
