5 Realistic Targets for Philadelphia 76ers to Chase During 2015 Offseason
Chasing some realistic targets during the 2015 NBA offseason will help the Philadelphia 76ers prove that the focus moving forward will be on winning games.
All eyes will be on general manager Sam Hinkie.
The Sixers have a 37-127 record since his arrival in May of 2013. The losing hasn't been much of a surprise, as a series of roster moves made his intentions clear, but we've hit a point where the direction needs to begin trending upward.
Philadelphia still has the league's second-youngest roster with an average age of 23.6. The majority of its foundation is also in place with the likes of Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid (if healthy) and Dario Saric when he arrives during the 2016-17 season after playing overseas. Add in draft picks, and it is now up to the Sixers to fill the roster's many gaps.
Philly has a great opportunity to bolster its squad through trades and free agency during the 2015 offseason.
It just needs to take advantage of it.
K.J. McDaniels, SG/SF, Houston Rockets
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It's not time to get off the K.J. McDaniels bandwagon just yet. At least not until the deal actually goes down and he's back in a Sixers jersey.
Pulling this kind of a move off would go down as the new definition of a "Hinkie move." Philadelphia's general manager traded McDaniels to the Houston Rockets for Isaiah Canaan and a second-round pick before this year's trade deadline.
The rookie's unique one-year, non-guaranteed contract that currently makes him a free agent could have been one of the reasons Hinkie pulled the trigger on the deals, especially when you look at what he brought—and could possibly bring back—to the team.
McDaniels is only 6'6" but packs a 6'11" wingspan that allows him to defend point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and even the occasional power forward. His ability to slash and get into the paint allows him to produce on the offensive end of the floor, and he can also create space for the occasional perimeter jumper.
He would easily help Philly get better as a unit moving forward.
The biggest hurdle in successfully signing McDaniels will likely come from whether he has negative feelings toward the Sixers after being traded. If he looks at the deal as a selfish play from Philadelphia's perspective, then it's unlikely that he'll return. However, reuniting would be perfect if McDaniels sees Philly as a location where he'll be able to get playing time and progress as a player.
The second-biggest obstacle will come from Houston. It has the right to match any of his potential offers if it views him as a part of its future because McDaniels is a restricted free agent. Having Josh Smith, Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer, Terrence Jones and Kostas Papanikolaou on the wing could deter the Rockets from doing so, though.
Perry Jones, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
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It feels like Perry Jones has been in the league for seven years but has never managed to live up to the hype that surrounded him during his time at Baylor University. In reality, though, he is about to enter his fourth season and won't turn 24 years old until September.
There's a lot of basketball in his future. It just might not be with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Completing a trade for Jones makes sense in two ways for the Sixers. The first and most obvious is that Philadelphia would be acquiring a 6'11" small forward with a great amount of athleticism and offensive skill. An example of this is the 32-point, 7-rebound performance he had in a losing effort versus the Los Angeles Clippers while filling in for an injured Kevin Durant during the Thunder's second game of the season.
Secondly, is how cheap the move could potentially be.
Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman wrote an article about Oklahoma City and its future with Jones on the roster. There's a lot to suggest that the relationship won't be lasting much longer:
"Jones still has one year left on his relatively cheap rookie deal. Despite what would expectedly be a small role, Jones wouldn’t be eating up much cap space. But he would be taking up a roster spot. And that’s a bigger deal.
The Thunder has 13 players under contract, two restricted free agents—Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler—who are likely to return and a first round pick from this year and last year (Josh Huestis) expected in camp.
That’s 17 guys for 15 spots. Jones could be one of the odd men out.
"
The asking price for Jones wouldn't be much more than a second-rounder at this point. The Thunder can't ask for a lot because he hasn't produced much and would be better off getting something rather than nothing for the small forward.
Another year on his rookie deal makes Jones a great low-risk, high-reward addition for the Sixers.
Jeremy Lamb, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
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There's no reason to jump to another NBA team when the Thunder have another great commodity in Jeremy Lamb.
Coming off his third NBA season, the shooting guard saw a decline in minutes from 19.7 during 2013-14 to 13.5 this year. It also looks like Oklahoma City might be ready to move forward without him after playing Andre Roberson and Anthony Morrow more than Lamb and trading for Dion Waiters in January.
Lamb is in a situation similar to Perry Jones' in that there just isn't enough room on the roster.
It creates another opportunity for the Sixers to secure him in a cheap trade in which the Thunder get value versus nothing at all.
It could benefit Philadelphia in a big way, too.
Lamb was much more touted coming out of college, but Philadelphia could end up providing him with a similar path to Robert Covington's. Covington only played in seven games for the Rockets before signing with the Sixers during last year's offseason. An opportunity for steady minutes led to an important role as he averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
The Sixers' lack of depth at the shooting guard position would give Lamb as good of a chance as anybody to prove he belongs.
Jimmer Fredette, PG, Unrestricted Free Agent
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Please take your time. Give yourself a moment for the shock to subside and dust to settle.
There's no doubt about it: Jimmer Fredette is easily the most questionable player on this list.
Fredette has gone from Jimmermania and being a national sensation at BYU to barely being talked about in the league. The 26-year-old has played for three teams in his four seasons and has yet to live up to even an ounce of the hype that surrounded him coming out of college.
His latest stint, with the New Orleans Pelicans, didn't do much to change people's minds about the 6'2" point guard, either. An average of 3.6 points per game on 38.0 percent shooting from the field and 18.8 percent from three-point range were all career lows.
With all that said, why should the Sixers take a flyer on Fredette?
Offering him a non-guaranteed, one-year vet-minimum deal and selling it as an opportunity to show that he belongs would make sense for both parties. Philadelphia could throw him into the NBA Summer League and gauge his success to determine if he's worth keeping around. If he is and makes the regular season roster, then the Sixers would have a backup point guard with the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor.
It's an important role to fill for a team who finished second-to-last in the NBA in scoring at 92.0 points per game.
The buzz surrounding his arrival would also generate a wild amount of fan interest. Philadelphia sports aren't new to this, with Tim Tebow signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Fredette could fall into a similar category.
There's a very realistic chance of Fredette failing to make next year's roster even if he is signed to a one-year deal. An opportunity with a team willing to give one out could spark the smallest glimmer of hope, though.
It would be worth it for the Sixers to find out.
Khris Middleton, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
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Khris Middleton picked the right time to shine.
His regular-season averages were on par with last year's, but he helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons. Middleton's 38.7 minutes, 15.8 points and 2.3 steals during the postseason were also team highs.
His clock has to be ticking like crazy, as the man is set to get absolutely paid this offseason.
Having a restricted free agent is nice because an organization has the right to match any offers thrown his way, but there is also a cost in doing so. Milwaukee would be looking at a hefty chunk of change if they wished to retain Middleton. Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (h/t NBC Sports' Brent Pollakoff), the Bucks "have every intention of matching" any deals thrown his way, but will they have the same stance if a max contract is offered?
The Sixers are more than capable of giving Middleton that kind of money because they have less than $32 million to pay out next season.
The decision on whether to throw a major contract at Middleton rests solely on if the Sixers truly believe he's a franchise shooting guard. His numbers suggest that he might be a two-way guard capable of turning into star. Philadelphia could still end up shying away from him and remain focused on saving money and building that position through the draft.
Acquiring Middleton could be a move that fans look back on in five years and reminisce about, or it could be one they wish never happened.
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