76ers Bold Predictions for Top 2022 NBA Offseason Signings, Trades

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming for the NBA crown.

That has technically been true for a while now, but the Sixers are pushing harder than ever for championship bliss. And it makes total sense given all of the progress made with this roster, like Joel Embiid's rise to perennial MVP candidate and Tyrese Maxey knocking on the door of stardom.

Philadelphia knows it's close, and it hopes to have found the missing pieces this summer. A draft-night deal delivered De'Anthony Melton. Free agency brought P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. to town. This once top-heavy roster now has legitimate depth, not to mention a good deal of nastiness on the defensive end.

The Sixers could be great next season, particularly if these three bold predictions about the newcomers come true.

P.J. Tucker Makes the All-Defense Team

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: P.J. Tucker #17 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

If you know anything about P.J. Tucker, you know his defense is dominant.

And ferocious. And unrelenting. And any other word used to describe the way in which a defensive ace makes life totally miserable for his matchup.

The rave reviews of his defense are well-deserved. He ranks favorably among the most versatile stoppers in the entire Association.

Somehow, though, his defense has never been formally recognized at this level with an All-Defense selection. That should change next season. He'll have a ton of eyes on him as Philly's biggest offseason addition, and that spotlight—coupled with the Ben Simmons-less Sixers' glaring need for an all-purpose stopper—should be enough for his defense to finally get the recognition it deserves.

Danuel House Jr. Leads Philly Reserves in Minutes

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 21: Danuel House Jr. #25 of the Utah Jazz reacts to a play during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

There have been flashes during Danuel House Jr.'s career in which his three-and-D skills have seemed indispensable.

Unfortunately, there have been more in which he's been regarded as expendable. Just last season, he spent time on three different rosters, as he was waived by the rebuilding Houston Rockets, wasn't kept beyond a 10-day contract by the New York Knicks and signed three different 10-day deals with the Utah Jazz before finally getting a rest-of-season deal.

By season's end, though, he appeared invaluable again. He averaged 19.6 minutes and shot 41.5 percent from three over his 25 games in Utah, then saw the seventh-most minutes on the Jazz in the postseason.

He could be even better in Philadelphia, where he'll reunite with his former Rockets teammates Tucker and James Harden. As long as House's three-ball is falling (career 36.6 percent), his shot and defensive versatility could point him toward the top reserve role.

De'Anthony Melton Sets Career-highs in Minutes, Points and Assists

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 13: De'Anthony Melton #0 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a three point basket against the Golden State Warriors during Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals on May 13, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

De'Anthony Melton has long been a favorite of the analytics crowd, but his traditional categories have started catching up to the hype, too.

Last season, he posted several personal bests, including 22.7 minutes, 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Despite having the highest usage percentage of his career (21.3), he also had his lowest-ever turnover percentage (13.0), per Basketball-Reference.com. And this comes after previously putting his old shooting struggles to bed (29.4 percent from three his first two seasons; 38.8 the past two).

He is 24 years old with four NBA seasons under his belt. It should surprise no one that he's improving. That's what his career trajectory says he should be doing.

His upward trend shouldn't stop, either. If anything, it might accelerate given how much talent he'll have around him in Philly. His game is built to shine alongside stars, and he can strengthen several areas with his disruptive defense, outside shooting and transition attacking.