Brace yourselves: The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to improve by methods other than the NBA draft.
This is neither a drill nor a prank. It’s for real, according to Sixers coach Brett Brown.
Per Calkins Media’s Tom Moore:
#Sixers Brown: 'We're definitely going to be in the free agent game.'
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) March 9, 2016
Well, that settles it. Kevin Durant is signing with the Sixers. The Oklahoma City Thunder should just give up now, as should the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards and New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers and any other team that’s hoping it can wedge it’s way into the Durant sweepstakes.
Seriously, this is going to be weird. The Sixers haven’t embraced the free-agency process during the Sam Hinkie era, and while they’ve undoubtedly made pitches to top talents in the past, it’ll be surreal when they sign anyone of consequence.
This might be the perfect summer for them to take a dip in the free-agency waters, too. The salary-cap is spiking and bidding wars could ensue for below-max players. The Sixers must come to terms with paying more for mid-end assets anyway, because they’re not yet good enough to sell prospective targets on their process or its results. And if they’re willing to break open the piggy bank, it’s possible they head into next season with—pauses to gasp—at least one fringe star on the roster.
