CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have a very important free agency period coming up as they try to put the right pieces around Joel Embiid and James Harden and properly contend in the East.
They have a legitimate star duo with those two leading the way, but team president Daryl Morey has another selling point he can offer free agents: coach Doc Rivers, who has great relationships with players around the league.
The Sixers hit on cheap free agents in the 2021 offseason. Andre Drummond and Georges Niang both singled out Rivers’ presence in their reasoning to come to Philadelphia. Morey plans on using the coach again as the team moves into free agency period at the end of June.
Morey and the Sixers have a plan for free agency, so having a guy like Rivers helps in recruitment and having guys understand their role.
“I think one good thing about coach Rivers is people wanna play for him because he’s very upfront with what role they’ll have, and I think that’s helped us recruit,” said Morey on Thursday after the draft. “We’re, hopefully, after free agency, we’re going to be a fairly deep team.”
The Sixers, at the moment, are a valuable team for potential free agents. They play in a passionate sports city. They have two stars. They have championship contention plans. And they possess Rivers, who has won in this league and is a former player. That always helps.
“So maybe we will have a challenge promising roles,” Morey added. “I do think what balances that is city, winning team, coach Rivers. I can’t tell you how much when I’m out there, people are like ‘I wanna play for Doc’. That’s been very helpful for me.”
With that period beginning in roughly a week, now is the time for Philadelphia to begin drawing up its selling points for potential additions.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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