The Philadelphia 76ers and Daryl Morey have been hard at work this summer to construct what should be the best roster of the Joel Embiid era. With the recent addition of Reggie Jackson, the Sixers’ guard room is set, but they are still a team that needs more size and height, maybe a little imposition, too. Here are five forwards that could assume that role in Philadelphia:
Lamar Stevens
Let’s start with the hometown kid. Stevens, only 26 years old, would slot in nicely to a Sixers second unit that needs more athleticism and tenacity alongside Ricky Council IV. Over the course of his five-year career, he has averaged 0.5 steals and 0.4 blocks a game in limited minutes. He would bring a much-needed toughness factor that the team has historically lacked.
Stevens is not a good shooter or offensive threat with the ball in his hands, but he uses that to his advantage on backdoor cuts when defenses sag off of him. He did, however, average 11.5 points in 23 minutes per game last season for the Memphis Grizzlies. He is like a poor man’s version of Caleb Martin, who is also now a Sixer and would be a welcome addition to the Sixers’ bench.
Gordon Hayward
Was Gordon Hayward meant to be a Sixer in the year 2024? In 2010, he was drafted 9th by the Utah Jazz. One pick later was Paul George to the Indiana Pacers. Paul George once suffered a catastrophic leg injury, and a couple of years later, Hayward did as well. In fact, this past season George and Hayward were the only remaining players on NBA rosters from the 2010 NBA Draft. Paul George signed on with the Sixers in 2024, and Hayward should do the same.
Hayward averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game last season, splitting time between the Hornets and Thunder. While he saw a significant decrease in game action after his trade to OKC, Hayward actually started to morph into that reliable veteran role-player that contending teams need. After he went to OKC, he shot 51.7 percent from long range- something the Sixers will value. He knows he is not the player he once was, and a self-aware veteran addition is arguably the best kind.
Jae Crowder
Crowder has always seemed destined to be a Sixer at some point in his career. He is a rugged, hard-nosed veteran who would fit in perfectly with the city and culture of Philadelphia. Standing at 6’6″ and 235 pounds, he is still a physical defender at his age and is hard to move off of his spot. He could slot into the starting power forward role if needed, allowing Kelly Oubre or Caleb Martin to bring a more consistent scoring punch off the bench and taking the top defensive assignment away from Paul George.
His willingness as a spot-up 3-point shooter would be welcome on the court with Joel Embiid, as well. While his percentage has dwindled in recent years, he consistently comes up big for winning basketball teams. He shot 44.5 percent from distance for the Heat in their run to the NBA Finals in the bubble, and the next year, he shot 38.9 percent for the Suns as they, too, made a run to the NBA Finals in 2021. If he were to bring his talents here, he would be a shoo-in to be a fan favorite in South Philly.
Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa will most likely end up signing a deal with a team for more than the veteran’s minimum, but if Daryl can pull this off, it would be quite the signing. Achiuwa is a powerful athlete who can defend players bigger than him and sticks to his strengths while on the floor. He is hustle and energy at all times, something Sixers fans saw all too closely in their first-round series against the Knicks. He would make a great mentor for Adem Bona.
This past season for the Raptors and Knicks, Achiuwa averaged 7.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, and his rebounding numbers ticked up over 7 once he was traded to New York. Speaking of the Knicks, prying away Achiuwa after they already lost Hartenstein to OKC would be a major blow to their front-line depth, which, of course, is good news for the Sixers—and Joel Embiid specifically.
Marcus Morris Sr.
Marcus Morris could be both the most likely and most impactful signing on this list, given his versatility, even at the age of 34. Morris is also from Philadelphia, knows the Sixers system under Nick Nurse, and will be happy to fill any role asked of him by the team. He should be heavily considered to come back into the fold in Philly.
Morris could start at one of the forward spots if Paul George or Caleb Martin misses time. He can come off the bench and provide spot-up shooting, where this past season, he shot over 40 percent from a distance. He can also act as the team’s enforcer, making sure the Sixers’ morale is high while simultaneously throwing little jabs at the opposition to throw them off their game. Morris’ skillset has aged nicely and he is still capable of providing solid minutes towards winning basketball.
