Yes, the 2019-20 season is not over just yet as the league has formatted a plan and agreed on a safe return to play beginning July 31. However, that does not mean that the offseason still can’t get some love during this time.
The Philadelphia 76ers have bigger matters to attend to at the moment as they will get their chance to bring an NBA championship back from Orlando, but when the offseason rolls around, there are some spots on the team that need to be filled. So Sixers Wire will continue our free agency talk concerning the Sixers by looking at player-by-player when it comes to the three needs: backup point guard, shooters, and big men.
D.J. Augustin
Up first is Augustin who is a backup point guard extraordinaire. He is averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 34.5% from deep–career 37.9% from deep–coming off the bench for the Orlando Magic. He is a player who can create off the dribble for himself–he shoots 3.2 foul shots per game–and his teammates as well.
He is a more than capable backup point guard and he could even start for a stretch should anything happen to Ben Simmons as he has proven in the past that he can fill in and produce as a starter. He played an instrumental part in Orlando making the playoffs in 2019 and he even made the game-winner in Game 1 on the road against the Toronto Raptors.
The way Augustin made that shot is what should be attractive for Philadelphia. They do not have many players who can actually create off the dribble and pull up for a jumper. He has that type of skill and he can do it pretty efficiently.
The Sixers do not have a lot of money to play with in free agency–roughly $6 million. As a journeyman point guard, Augustin will be looking to hop on with a contender and help that team in their quest for a title. In the case of Philadelphia, they fit that mold perfectly. At 32-years old, he most likely would not mind taking a small contract for the right situation to backup Simmons with the Sixers. [lawrence-related id=32694,32685,32678]