The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to make a splash this offseason.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday that Philadelphia is aiming for “a maximum-salary player via free agency or a trade from a pool that includes Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.”
The urgency isn’t surprising, as Joel Embiid will turn 31 years old next season and still hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs.
Embiid and Tyrese Maxey represent a solid duo, but the 76ers will need more if they are going to make it past the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and other top teams in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25. Adding another star player would also give them someone who could carry the offense if Embiid is sidelined with any injury concerns.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported on Monday that George was Philadelphia’s “plan A in free agency” and pointed out the veteran provides the “versatility” to play at an MVP level some nights and an “elite 3-and-D role player” other nights, which “is exactly what the Sixers need.”
George can take over as needed, but he isn’t as ball-dominant as someone like James and could be the ideal complement to Embiid. He can take advantage of openings created by double teams down low after connecting on 41.3 percent of his triples last season and take some of the defensive pressure off Maxey and others with his ability to guard multiple positions.
But James, Butler and Ingram would be quite the fallback options.
James is an all-time great who was still an All-NBA Third Team selection this past season even at age 39, Butler is familiar with Philadelphia after playing alongside Embiid during the 2018-19 campaign, and Ingram has played with Zion Williamson on the New Orleans Pelicans and knows how to succeed next to a star big man.
The 76ers’ window to win a championship with Embiid as the focal point will get smaller as he ages, and they are expected to have plenty of cap space this offseason. This figures to be the time to strike, and nobody can accuse them of thinking small with connections to these names before the NBA offseason even officially begins.