The 4 best players the 76ers must re-sign on the 2024 NBA free agent market, no kidding.
More than half of the 76ers' players will become free agents in the 2024 offseason, meaning a shuffle.
The Philadelphia 76ers have 10 free agents coming to free agency this summer, and even considering that players with player options may choose to become unrestricted free agents, Philadelphia has the most free agents of any NBA team.
Daryl Morey put it well: This offseason is going to bring a lot of changes to the 76ers' roster.
In his post-season press conference, Morey named Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul Reed and Ricky Council IV as the only players expected to return next season.
As a restricted free agent, Maxi will eventually get a new contract, and both Reed and the Board have signed a contract that is not fully guaranteed. With Embiid currently the only player on a guaranteed contract, the 76ers have a lot of salary headroom to boost their roster.
But while Philadelphia needs to acquire more players for 16 games, especially at the winger position, that doesn't mean switching out the support roster entirely, there are plenty of consistent players who can stay in similar or smaller roles on their new contracts. But at the same time, there are also players who they don't have to worry too much about losing.
While the 76ers have more than three free agents who may want to stay, three of them should be their priority, and one player should be the most deserving signing.
76人队应该尝试重新签约尼科·巴图姆(Nico Batum)、卡姆·佩恩(Cam Payne)和凯利·欧布雷(Kelly Oubre Jr.) ，以及从湖人请来勒布朗詹姆斯。
Batum
Batum was an absolute lifesaver for the 76ers and the biggest reason why the James Harden trade was immediately valuable. If he decides to play in the NBA for another season — and last offseason, his wife said he planned to retire after the Olympics this summer — then the 76ers should make sure he stays with them.
The veteran winger, who has defended opponents' top perimeter players (and sometimes even star centers), has been invaluable in crunch time, especially in the playoff games against the Miami Heat. His passing is constantly praised as the best on the team, and his ability to shoot the ball – including on the move and with a fluid release without too much fluctuation – makes him the perfect role player around the two stars.
While Batum should be brought back, he should play less than last year. He will turn 36 in December and has been plagued by multiple injuries over the past season, at one point missing as many as nine games in a row. Reducing his playing time to around 20 minutes or more than 19 minutes and making him the first player to come off the bench will help keep him more alert while still taking advantage of his excellent talent.
Batum can still play a key role with the 76ers, but he can't rely on him like he did last season. If he decides to play another season, Philadelphia should do everything they can to keep him, even if it's just to sign him to a one-year contract.
Payne
When Payne first came to Philadelphia, it looked like he was just being used as a tie-in contract to allow Patrick Beverley to go to the Milwaukee Bucks and earn a future second-round pick for the 76ers. But when he got the chance to play, including in the playoffs, Payne was outstanding.
Despite his modest stature, Payne can make a difference in key moments and is able to play 15 to 20 minutes. His agility, hovering jumper and ability to shoot on the move make him a very good off-the-line option for Maxey. As a team defender, despite being small in stature, he did his best, making defensive moves off the field and making good rotations. He even has the same positive, optimistic vibes that make him a wonderful presence in the dressing room.
After signing a minimum wage contract last offseason, Payne could get a raise, even if not a multi-year contract. The 76ers have other priorities, but should try to keep Payne when the price is right. In addition to Maxey, they need another perimeter player to handle the ball, so why not keep someone who has proven himself to be a reliable substitute?
Aubre
Aubre has given the 76ers far more than one would expect from a minimum contract signing, and his athleticism makes him useful in a variety of situations, especially in the playoffs, where he has performed well both as a starter and off the bench. His scoring is inconsistent, but when he's in good form, he can set the scoreboard on fire.
While Aubre is still helpful for Philadelphia, it's best to have him as a substitute/emergency starter. If Embiid isn't on the court, his three-point shooting percentage drops, but he can still put pressure on the opposition and defend well on and off the court.
While Embiid was on the floor, he shot a pretty decent 37.6 percent from three-point range. He has shown a sparkle of serving in the drive, and his assists per game have increased as the season has progressed, although his decisions can sometimes hinder the attack.
It will be an interesting question of how much Aubre's next contract will be worth, and there is no doubt that he has increased his value, but the question is how many teams believe he can repeat what he did for the 76ers, and it would be a good option to keep Aubre on the bench for around $8 million a year.
Finally, I want to say that among the 4 players that the 76ers must sign in the offseason, in addition to the above 3, the most important thing to sign is LeBron James, after all, James and Embiid Maxey can win the championship. Philadelphia could use this to convince James to give up staying with the Lakers and move to Philadelphia.