The Philadelphia 76ers roster is more than likely completely set at this point of the season, especially following the signing of Montrezl Harrell.
With training camp just around a month away, and the Sixers having a complete roster, some players would have to be released — or traded — for any free agent signing to take place. While that doesn’t seem necessarily likely, there are still players in the NBA’s free agency pool who could bring some more depth to Philadelphia either now or during the season.
A Reunion
Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala is a multi-position defender who has 4 NBA Championships and a Finals MVP to his name. He is also 38 years old and coming off of his least productive season in the NBA. The one-time All-Star averaged a career-low 4.0 points per game in only 19.5 minutes per game across 38 games.
The forward would almost certainly be signed with the hope of being a locker room guy, with the ability to provide occasional minutes of defensive leadership.
While the Golden State Warriors reportedly have a roster spot available that is being saved for Iguodala, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The 2015 Finals MVP is still weighing his options. Yes, at the top is a return to Golden State or retirement, but what if a return to where it all began is how he chose to end his story?
An Iggy signing could also provide a poetic storyline to the Sixers. Iguodala spent his first eight seasons in Philadelphia, and his eventual departure via trade for Andrew Bynum was the first domino to fall in what would end up pushing the Sixers into The Process.
A Shorter Long Shot
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas is still trying to regain his form since his injury and subsequent dismissal from the Boston Celtics. This season alone he played on three different teams: The Lakers (4 games), the Mavericks (1 game), and the Hornets (17 games). Through these 22 games, Isaiah Thomas averaged 8.4 points per game on 40.1% from the field and 33.7% from deep. However, focusing on his games in Charlotte, IT shot an improved 43.3% from the field and 39.7% from deep.
Isaiah Thomas still belongs in this league. He proved that this year in Charlotte. While he will probably never regain his near MVP form, he can still provide bench scoring and a sparkplug for the Sixers. His skills and mentality of having a chip on his shoulder would make him perfect for Philadelphia.
A Mid Range Big
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus unretired last year to rejoin the Brooklyn Nets. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for the Nets as they ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs. LaMarcus himself played extremely well in his age 36 seasons. In 47 games and 12 starts, he averaged 12.9 points per game on 55.5% shooting.
The biggest risk for Aldridge is his age. He is already 37, and given that he has already retired once due to an irregular heartbeat, that would have to be a concern for the Sixers. However, much like most other players on this list, he could provide incredible mentorship for young guys like Paul Reed, and Charles Bassey, or a simply a floor spacing option behind Joel Embiid.
Conclusion
More than likely, Sixers are probably not going to make any roster moves to sign any of these players.
Their roster is already full, and there is a reason that each of these players remain on the free agent market for so long. However, there is a chance that each of these players could sign with the Sixers and bring their particular set of skills to a team that is ready to contend this year.
