Ranking Top 5 Free Agents for Philadelphia 76ers to Pursue During 2015 Offseason
Every 48-minute game brings us closer to figuring out how the Philadelphia 76ers will pursue free agency during the 2015 NBA offseason.
The Sixers have the league's third-worst record at 18-56, but they are as competitive as they've been all season. A 4-6 record in the last 10 games with two one-point losses is proof of how much progress they've really made.
Philly's youth and inexperience are the only factors truly holding it back from being a middle-of-the-road team. Combine time with development, and that has the possibility of becoming much more.
The foundation is in place, but there is room for improvement in certain areas. Free agency is always a great time to fill in the holes and gaps.
Philadelphia is faced with a ridiculous amount of freedom, as it has the NBA's highest cap space. The team can approach it by trying to offer max contracts to the best of the 2015 free-agent class, or save as much as possible in order to have the ability to provide its current players with bigger deals when the time comes.
It's not the easiest choice to make.
I recently wrote an article about whom the Sixers should have on their free-agency big board, and now it's time to rank them. There will be some familiar names with a few different people thrown into the mix, as their value would simply be higher.
The highest value among young free-agents falls among forwards with the exception of Jimmy Butler—who is best at shooting guard—with the Chicago Bulls. The questionable nature surrounding Derrick Rose's health will likely make Chicago do everything in its power to keep Butler with the Bulls, though, so expect to see forwards rank at the top of Philadelphia's list.
With that said, here's a look at the top five free agents for Philadelphia to purse during the 2015 offseason.
Type: Restricted
It's impossible to predict all that will happen with Kawhi Leonard and the 2015 free-agency period, but he will start next year off with a max contract.
It's a virtual certainty.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski wrote an article about Leonard's talks regarding a contract extension breaking down with the San Antonio Spurs. Here is what his agent Brian Elfus had to say on the matter:
"We feel Kawhi is deserving of a max contract, and we are disappointed that something couldn’t get done. There’s no debating Kawhi’s value. The market has been set. He’s done everything the Spurs have asked of him, exceeded all of their expectations. Coach [Gregg] Popovich has gone out of his way to call Kawhi the future face of the franchise. We have great respect for the Spurs organization, but here, we simply agree to disagree.
There will be no shortage of teams interested in Kawhi’s services next year. There will be a lot of contract scenarios available to us, and we will explore them all.
"
News on Philadelphia's front is relatively quiet, as there haven't been many rumors about the Sixers pursing the NBA's leading steal man. The same can't be said for teams like the Boston Celtics, who are expected to make a heavy push for Leonard when free agency hits.
Still, don't be surprised to at least hear Philly's name linked to San Antonio's leading scorer as we get closer to the offseason. He is a franchise-caliber small forward who could be a Sixers cornerstone for years to come.
The bottom line is that the money is on its way. The Spurs just need to decide on how valuable one of the league's rising stars really is to their team.
If a max deal isn't worth it to San Antonio, then someone like Philadelphia would likely love to have the 23-year-old small forward.
Type: Restricted
Draymond Green is similar to Leonard in that he's a restricted free agent. However, there's a big difference when it comes to the teams they play on.
Leonard is on an aging Spurs team whose cap space will open up if players like Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili decide to call it quits at season's end.
Green is a part of a Golden State Warriors squad with the NBA's best backcourt. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson not only combine to average 45.4 points per game, but they're also only 27 and 25 years old, respectively.
Their contracts aren't going anywhere any time soon, and their value is higher than someone like Green (though he is still incredibly important).
It could create an interesting dynamic moving forward.
The wild part about his game is how he doesn't specialize in one specific area. Instead, he's amazingly well-rounded and has the ability to do it all.
He also fits the Philadelphia mold.
He can stretch the floor, as he's making 34.1 percent of his three-pointers while shooting 4.2 per game. Securing 8.1 rebounds in each contest while only being 6'7" is also a testament to his motor and awareness.
Add in averages of 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks, and Green goes to show a unique balance on the defensive end of the floor.
Green might not warrant a max contract during free agency, but there's no reason to believe that a different organization won't try to lure him with a contract too big for the Warriors to match.
Maybe that team will be Philadelphia.
3. K.J. McDaniels
Type: Restricted
Grabbing K.J. McDaniels back from the Houston Rockets is brilliant enough to almost justify putting his name in the No. 1 spot.
There wasn't much he couldn't do when he was with the Sixers. McDaniels was one of the team's most athletic players, as he consistently ended up on highlights with his blocks and dunks.
His 6'11" wingspan also wreaked havoc on the opposition, which is evidenced by the 1.3 blocks and 0.8 steals he averaged in Philadelphia.
It was great and all, but why would McDaniels even consider signing back with the Sixers if they were the ones who traded him?
The answer is quite simple: opportunity.
The Rockets have played him for a total of 18 minutes since he was moved at the trade deadline on February 19. What makes it even worse is that Houston has played in 19 games since the deal.
Compare relatively no playing time to 25.4 minutes over the course of 52 games with the Sixers, and the potential intrigue becomes clear.
It's important to remember that McDaniels is a restricted free agent, which means the Rockets will be able to match any offer if they choose to. General manager Sam Hinkie would be foolish to not at least consider bringing him back, though.
Throwing a contract his way can't hurt. At worst, he'll re-sign with Houston or another team. At best, the Sixers bring him back, and Hinkie looks like a genius.
4. Ed Davis
Type: Player Option
Ed Davis has continued to play well for the Los Angeles Lakers, as he's averaged 8.4 points and 7.5 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game. His 1.3 blocks are icing on the cake—his length allows him to protect the rim at a high rate.
The defensive presence also perfectly caters to the Sixers' identity.
Philadelphia averages 6.2 blocks, tied for the second-best mark in the league with Golden State. The roster consists of young and athletic bigs—such as Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, who excel at shot-blocking—and adding Davis into the mix would give Philly a needed level of depth.
Davis will be 26 years old by the start of the 2015-16 season. This year with the Lakers has proven that he won't be a big-time starter down the road, but he is clearly capable of producing off the bench.
There isn't anything glamorous about signing a backup center during free agency, but it's something for Philadelphia to definitely think about.
Type: Unrestricted
Re-signing Thomas Robinson obviously wouldn't make a splash as a new arrival. It should clearly be looked at as a priority for the Sixers, though.
It would certainly make sense, considering he has played his best basketball in Philadelphia. Here's a look at how he's done in each situation presented to him throughout his career thus far.
| Year | Team | Games Played | Minutes Per Game | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game |
| 2012-13 | Sacramento Kings | 51 | 15.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| 2012-13 | Houston Rockets | 19 | 13.0 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| 2013-14 | Portland Trail Blazers | 70 | 12.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| 2014-15 | Portland Trail Blazers | 32 | 12.2 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
| 2014-15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 16 | 16.9 | 8.5 | 7.6 |
The smallest bump in playing time has shown Robinson's capability. His energy and intensity are off the charts, begging for there to be a way to measure them.
His sample size is very small, as he will end the year playing in less than 30 games for the Sixers, but the foundation has been cleanly presented for everyone to see.
Playing on four teams in three seasons has to be difficult. There is little to no room for growth and stability when someone is forced to move to different organizations at such a frequent rate. Philadelphia and Robinson have a chance to break the mold, and it is a great fit for each's future.
It makes Robinson an important free-agent signing during the 2015 offseason.
Zachary Arthur is a Featured Columnist for the Sixers on Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @Zach_ArthurSLC for thoughts on everything basketball.
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