7 Players the Philadelphia 76ers Should Pursue This Offseason

Sitting at 28-22, if the regular season ended today, the Philadelphia 76ers would be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference in the NBA playoffs.

While they're already seeing success, the 76ers have a talented nucleus of players that will provide a bright future for the team.

With some savvy offseason moves, coupled with the continued progression of young players like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Nikola Vucevic, the 76ers have an opportunity to elevate from playoff contenders to potential champions.

With Spencer Hawes' and Andres Nocioni's contracts likely coming off the books (Hawes is an unrestricted free agent while Nocioni has a team option that is unlikely to be exercised) for roughly $11.5 million, the 76ers should have some room to work with.

Here are seven players the 76ers should pursue this offseason to help push them to the next level.

Kris Humphries

Kris Humphries is known more for his short-lived marriage to Kim Kardashian than his abilities on the basketball court. But don't kid yourself, Humphries is a pretty solid NBA player.

The 76ers, meanwhile, have their biggest need at power forward, which is where Humphries plays. With Elton Brand locked up for one more season at $18.16 million, the 76ers need to have a player to caddy with the aging Brand. Humphries would be perfect for the job.

He's averaging a double-double this season for the New Jersey Nets. At 13.3 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game, Humphries would be a nice addition to the 76ers.

If they could get him for a fairly cheap price, he could split time with Brand next season, allowing Philadelphia to pick up a long-term solution when Brand's contract comes off the books in 2013-14.

Michael Beasley

After being selected second overall in the 2008 NBA draft, not much has gone right for Beasley.

He's had numerous run-ins with the law and the NBA over substance-abuse related issues. And while he's not a draft bust in the same category as someone like Hasheem Thabeet, it's clear that Beasley hasn't met the expectations that come along with being selected second in the draft.

That said, it's easy to forget that Beasley is still only 23 years old.

On top of that, his career numbers have been solid. He has averaged 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds throughout his career—and averaged 19.2 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.

Off the court, it would be a gamble for Philadelphia to acquire Beasley because of his storied past. But assuming he can get his life straightened out, it may not be too late to tap into the huge upside that got him drafted No. 2 overall.

Beasley could get in the rotation with Brand before taking over the starting duties when Brand's contract expires next year.

Louis Williams

Rather than going out and signing a free-agent point guard, the 76ers should try to re-sign Louis Williams if he decides to exercise the early termination clause in his contract.

Williams is familiar with the system in Philadelphia and he's one of the best backup point guards in the NBA.

Williams has averaged double-digit scoring off the bench in the last five seasons, including a career-high 15.5 points per game this season.

He also averages 3.6 assists per game. While his assists numbers aren't stellar, his turnovers per game have dropped every season for the past four seasons, showing that he knows how to take care of the ball.

George Hill

If the 76ers can't re-sign Louis Williams, then George Hill could be a solid option to back up Jrue Holiday.

The 76ers are looking to make some noise in the NBA playoffs for years to come. Hill could help them do that.

He's still young at 25 years old, and he's already got playoff experience from his time playing with the San Antonio Spurs. He should gain more playoff experience with the Pacers this season as well.

Hill can play perimeter defense, distribute the ball and knock down three-pointers. If he comes to Philadelphia, he'll be a solid backup to Jrue Holiday and should be able to capably man the position for a few seasons, given his relative youth.

Marcus Camby

With Philadelphia's future at center in 2011 first-round draft pick Nikola Vucevic, the 76ers just need a solid backup. Camby is exactly that, as well as an experienced veteran that Vucevic could learn from.

Camby doesn't provide much in offense, but that's never really been a big part of his game. Camby is about defense and rebounding, both of which he still does at a high level.

At 38 years old, it has yet to be determined if Camby will continue playing after this season.

But if he does, he'd be an intriguing addition for Philadelphia.

Josh Howard

Howard was an upper echelon shooting guard/small forward from 2005-2009. Now 31 years old and with his best years behind him, Howard is still a productive NBA player.

With Evan Turner still developing and Andre Iguodala a star-caliber player, the 76ers don't need much from their backups at the 2 or 3. Howard could provide some offense off the bench and provide some production while he's on the floor.

Plus, given his recent track record, the 76ers probably wouldn't have to pay Howard too much, ensuring that they'll have some cap room to sign some impact free agents when Brand's contract comes off the books in 2013-14.

Courtney Lee

Lee was a starter for much of his first two seasons in the NBA. Now in his fourth year, Lee has spent the last two seasons coming off the bench. It's a role that he's done well with.

Given Philadelphia's depth at the 2-guard spot, there's no need for them to acquire a starter. With Lee as a productive reserve, the 76ers could add a player that will impact the team without commanding a ton of minutes.

Lee can score off the bench, as he's averaging 10.3 points per game in a reserve role for the Rockets. Lee also can knock down three-pointers, considering he's 38.2 percent from beyond the arc throughout his career.

At 26 years old, he still has a number of of productive seasons ahead of him. Given his age and productivity, he would be a nice addition to the 76ers.