Realistic Low-Cost Free Agent Options for Sixers

NBA: OCT 19 Thunder at Clippers
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Oklahoma City Thunder Center Nerlens Noel (3) looks on during a NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers on October 19, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Guard options for the Sixers

One issue in last year’s roster that has not been talked about enough is the failure to put a true point guard on the team. While Ben Simmons will no-doubt handle the ball a great deal, having another guy with the ability to run the offense could open things up a great deal for the entire team. The attempts to play Shake at point guard were worth a shot, but Shake is much better at creating for himself than others and it would be best served to keep him in a more scoring-based role.

The only true point guard that the Sixers did have on the roster was the 4th year Brazilian, Raul Neto. While Neto had a fairly impressive bubble performance and receives far more hate than he deserves, he still should not be viewed as a viable long-term option for the team. Adding a legitimate back-up point guard could help the offense run more efficiently when Simmons is off the court and also open up the potential for Simmons to move off the ball on a more regular basis, which could go a long way in his overall development.

DJ Augustin

DJ Augustin is the ultimate professional and has played for 8 teams throughout his 11-year career. He has been in and out of starting lineups and played on teams that were legitimate contenders (like the 2012-2013 Pacers who went toe-to-toe with the LeBron led Heat) down to lottery teams focused on developing younger players. There are few situations that DJ has not faced and there is still some tread on his 32-year-old legs.

Augustin is coming off the biggest contract of his career which brought him $7.25 million per year. It is possible the Magic want to make sure DJ is back in an Orlando jersey next year after an 8th place finish in which the team even beat the Bucks in one game of the playoffs. Augustin was one of the biggest leaders on the team and was reportedly the “most universally respected player in Magic’s locker room.

Over his career, Augustin has averaged 9.9 points and 4 assists. He is consistent on a nightly basis and flashes spurts of brilliance, such as his 25 points including a game-winning 3 to upset the Raptors in the 2019 playoffs. The addition of Augustin to the Sixers would provide a stable backcourt piece that could provide minutes down the stretch.

Jordan McLaughlin

This option would be much more of a question mark. While Augustin has the body of work to prove his worth, Jordan McLaughlin has played just 30 games in the NBA. After going undrafted in the 2018 draft, McLaughlin spent a season in the G-League before earning a 10-day contract with the Timberwolves. McLaughlin has scratched and clawed his way to each opportunity he has gotten and has made the most of his chances.

In his 30 games with the T-Wolves, he established himself as a worthy member of the roster and even scored a career-high 24 points and 11 assists in a game against the Clippers. McLaughlin was heavily praised for his leadership and also managed to rank 8th in the league in assist/turnover ratio. McLaughlin would likely be available for a decent price and he may prove to greatly outplay this price based on the early flashes he has shown.

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Bigs

Whether the need for a new big man to be signed or not largely depends on what is done with Al Horford. Aside from the overpaid and underperforming Big Al, the Sixers also have the option to pick up Norvel Pelle’s $1.5 million option. Joel Embiid is the best center in the league when healthy and having legitimate depth behind him for games he cannot play must continue to be a focus. If Al Horford is dealt to another team it may be wise to see if an upgrade on the bench is possible.

Nerlens Noel

As shocking as this may be, Nerlens Noel is younger than Norvel Pelle. The similarities between those two quickly add up as both guys are rim-running big men with a focus on blocking shots on D and catching lobs on offense. There is no big-man on the market who can replace Embiid’s role in the offense so a focus must be put on finding the right players to surround Simmons and the rest of the starters. Nerlens could play well in the pick-and-roll with Simmons and be impactful on a faster-paced offense.

While Noel is mostly thought of as a bust and his first stint with the Sixers was largely a failure, he is another guy who has settled into his job as a role player. After turning down a massive $70 million offer from the Mavericks, Noel played under just a $2 million contract last season. Noel will never be the potential star he was once hoped to be, but he is still a guy who can help the team and play minutes on a competitor.

Markieff Morris

After growing up in Philadelphia and still being active in the community, it would be a nice homecoming for Markieff Morris. While he is largely considered the lesser of the two Morris twins, Markieff still could fill a great role on the team. He brings a toughness on the boards along with a solid outside stroke and opens up the potential for the team to have a small-ball big.

Markieff played last season with the Pistons and the Lakers with a contract of $1.75 million. There has been an interest between the Sixers and Morris before as he was once targeted to be a Rober Covington replacement, and he could still serve a great role for the team. Despite the horrible pass at the end of game 5 in the finals, Morris should be looked at as a guy who can handle the big moments when needed and could prove to be much more effective than his contract would indicate.

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire