The NBA free agency period has not been around for even two full weeks, but people around the sports world are beginning to pick a winner of the offseason after a flurry of moves made by each team.
The Philadelphia 76ers were one of those teams who made their moves when they brought in PJ Tucker on a 3-year deal, that has a player option in the third season, as well as Danuel House Jr. and Trevelin Queen. The Sixers also brought in De’Anthony Melton in a trade on draft night.
The idea is that the Sixers will be a deeper, tougher, more physical team as they move forward with their title hopes led by Joel Embiid and James Harden.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton is picking the Sixers as the winner of free agency:
The Philadelphia 76ers, I think a winner so far in free agency. They added the kind of tough minded. defensive players who can also shoot roleplayers that you want around Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey. So obviously, PJ Tucker from the Miami Heat their marquee addition using the non taxpayer mid-level exception, also got Danuel House Jr., another former member of the Houston Rockets who played with James Harden there when Daryl Morey was in Houston. And then De’Anthony Melton in a nice trade with the Memphis Grizzlies sending out the 23rd pick in this year’s draft. Another former Houston draft pick, never played with Harden and the Rockets, but someone who fits that similar mold and really is improved as a shooter and become a quality role player and on a great contract the next couple of years.
Pelton did express some concern about the fact that Tucker got a player option in the final year of the contract, but at the same time, he is still a good addition for coach Doc Rivers:
I do have a little concern about what they gave a three year contract with a player option to PJ Tucker kind of remarkable given that last year he was only able to get a two year deal with the player option on the second year for the Heat for less money, but I understand why he was so coveted. This is something I wrote about before the start of free agency is players like Tucker who have the ability to play forward. I don’t know who’s the power and the small forward. You play him in Tobias Harris together in Philadelphia, it kind of doesn’t matter, but do that during the regular season. And then in the playoffs. I think he’s someone who can slide to that backup center spot but behind Joel Embiid and give the Sixers a little bit different look, they can become more switchable with those lineups letting what James Harden is going to want to do so I like the flexibility that all of that gives Doc Rivers.
As the Sixers move forward, it will be important to figure out roles and make sure Tucker is in a good spot and comfortable with the team. It’s important that House Jr. fills a role in the team’s bench unit as well. They need him to be a good 3-and-D player for that second group.
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This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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