The Sixers entered this season still smarting from their sweep at the hands of the Celtics in the first round of the 2020 playoffs and looking to regain their status as a Finals contender.
And for much of the year, it looked like they were on track to do just that. With a rebalanced roster and Joel Embiid playing at an MVP level, the Sixers finished the year with a 49-23 record, one game ahead of the Nets for the top seed in the East.
Though Ben Simmons had a disappointing year, averaging the fewest points, rebounds, and assists per game of his career, Tobias Harris looked rejuvenated under head coach Doc Rivers, Seth Curry finished the year sixth in the NBA in three-point percentage, and Dwight Howard and young guards Shake Milton and Tyrese Maxey shined in their limited roles.
In the first round of the 2021 playoffs, the Sixers comfortably dispatched the Wizards in five games, but Embiid suffered a meniscus tear in Game 4. While he was able to keep up his dominant level of play in the Sixers’ seven-game series against the Hawks, the team’s supporting cast was ultimately unable to provide enough to best an underdog Atlanta squad. For the second year in a row, the team was left with more questions than answers heading into the offseason following a disappointing playoff performance.
The Sixers’ Offseason Plan:
All questions regarding the Sixers offseason begin with Simmons.
Simmons didn’t just take a step back during the regular season — his lack of aggression against the Hawks in the playoffs was so notable that both Embiid and Rivers addressed it in comments to the media following the series’ end. While team president Daryl Morey spoke publicly of his faith in Simmons to address his unwillingness to shoot and to continue to be an important part of the team, reports have since indicated that the Sixers have opened up trade dialogues and are hoping to get a star in return for the 25-year-old point guard.
Despite his flaws, Simmons is a huge part of how the 76ers function, and the possibility of trading him away creates a major question mark about what the team will look like next year. Luckily, the Sixers are no strangers to offseason overhauls. Should Morey manage to trade Simmons in a blockbuster deal, it will be the fourth season in a row in which one of the team’s highest-paid players was either added or subtracted. From acquiring – then losing – Jimmy Butler to signing Al Horford to a $100+MM contract to dumping Horford for Danny Green, the 76ers have gotten into the habit of shaking up the roster on an annual basis.
The Sixers will also have to address Green’s unrestricted free agency. Although he only scored seven points per game during the playoffs, the threat of Green’s shooting and his versatile defense was important, especially given Curry’s limitations on the defensive end. And with the team paying maximum contracts to Embiid, Harris, and Simmons (or, potentially, the centerpiece of a Simmons trade), there will be very little money to replace Green on the open market.
The team will also need to rebalance its roster, as promising rookie Paul Reed represents the only bench depth at the forward/center spot. Furkan Korkmaz, the 6’7″ scoring specialist, will hit unrestricted free agency this summer, meaning Maxey, Milton, Isaiah Joe and Matisse Thybulle are the only bench players on guaranteed contracts, and all are combo guards.
George Hill, who came over in a midseason deal with the Thunder, has a partially-guaranteed deal and was largely ineffective in the series against the Hawks, though he still provided his typical brand of stout defense. With so many guards on the roster, the Sixers may decide not to guarantee the rest of his $10MM deal.
One player of interest will be Howard. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year was great for the Sixers off the bench and filled in when needed for Embiid. Philadelphia would undoubtedly like to keep him around, but it remains to be seen if Howard will be able to score one last slightly bigger payday elsewhere after two solid years of being a backup center.
Curry could potentially offer a point of flexibility. Curry was massively important to the Sixers, both in the playoffs and the regular season. But should Morey move Simmons for a scoring guard (such as CJ McCollum), it’s possible the club could view Curry as redundant and – given his bargain contract – try to move him for another wing, inserting defensive specialist Thybulle into the starting lineup to complement the newly-acquired guard.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: given the team’s high expectations, roster holes, and lingering trade rumors, the Sixers we see on opening night of the 2020/21 season could look very different from the group we last saw walking off the floor against the Hawks.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.
Guaranteed Salary
- Tobias Harris ($35,995,950)
- Ben Simmons ($33,003,936)
- Joel Embiid ($31,579,390)
- Seth Curry ($8,207,518)
- Matisse Thybulle ($2,840,160)
- Tyrese Maxey ($2,602,920)
- Shake Milton ($1,846,738)
- Isaiah Joe ($1,517,981)
- George Hill ($1,275,491) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- Total: $118,870,084
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- George Hill ($8,771,806) 1
- Anthony Tolliver ($2,692,991) 2
- Paul Reed ($1,517,981)
- Total: $12,982,778
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Two-Way Free Agents
Draft Picks
- No. 28 overall pick ($2,023,800)
- No. 50 overall pick (no cap hold)
- Total: $2,023,800
Extension-Eligible Players
- Seth Curry (veteran)
- George Hill (veteran)
- Shake Milton (veteran)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
Danny Green ($19,975,609): Early Bird rights- Mike Scott ($9,510,165): Bird rights
- Furkan Korkmaz ($1,669,178): Bird rights
- Dwight Howard ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
- Kyle O’Quinn ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights 3
- Total: $34,493,308
Offseason Cap Outlook
If they were to waive Hill, the Sixers would have $120MM+ in commitments for nine roster spots, giving the team the flexibility to remain below the tax line and even use the full mid-level exception.
However, if Philadelphia either hangs onto Hill or re-signs Green, that flexibility below the tax line will mostly disappear and the club would be limited to the taxpayer mid-level. I lean toward the front office taking that approach for now, but it’s hardly set in stone — the 76ers’ financial outlook could also change if they’re able to trim team salary at all on the trade market.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,890,000 4
- Trade exception: $8,190,134
Footnotes
- Hill’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 3.
- Tolliver’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after September 4.
- The cap hold for O’Quinn remain on the Sixers’ books from a prior season because he hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. If the Sixers stay below the tax apron, they could have access to the full mid-level exception ($9.5MM) and the bi-annual exception ($3.7MM).
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post. Luke Adams contributed to this post.
If 76ers don’t want to pay luxury tax, they can only offer Korkmaz and Danny Green $6 million per year each
Or trade Simmons for smaller contract
Wonder who they would include in a sign and trade for Lowry.
Of course it won’t be Embiid, so it would most likely have to be Simmons or Harris.
If I squint, I can see a three way deal with McCollum going to Toronto, Simmons to Portland, and Lowry signed and traded to Philly. Philly would have to get more than Lowry, but not a lot more.
Lowry, Boucher and a 2nd for Simmons.
lol okay then
Danny green was making 19 million? I loved him his year in Toronto but that’s ridiculous.
He was making closer to $15MM this past season — the $19MM+ figure is his cap hold.
Well Ben Simmons aka Salvatore Bonpensiero, probably will be on the roster if they can’t get Dame.
Nothing has changed on the Beal Fox or LaVine front. Dame kinda left the door open. If the Blazers can’t “fix” their roster, apparently he wants to go to NY or PHL per reports.
I honestly don’t know if they pull the trigger on a Buddy/MB3/#9 or a Brogdon/LeVert/#13 trade. I can almost certainly say they won’t trade him for a Sexton/Love package. Love’s latest episode just devalues him even further which is hard to imagine. I don’t see the fit from a GSW standpoint if they keep Draymond, but it would be Wiggins/#7/#14, and I’d say have to include Poole too, the league sees Wiggins as a negative value. And then is CJ a good enough consolation? Thats probably a straight up trade.
Based on the latest I’ve got 10% chance Dame is dealt preseason. Which is up from 0%. If the Blazers are 7-10th by the deadline he’s gone 100%. So do they only hold out for a Dame trade?
I don’t think they’ll be paralyzed waiting to do that deal, so I expect them to be active in building the bench.
How can they build the bench though? I don’t see this team being able to do anything while they have Ben and Tobi on the roster. They won’t have the cap room to do anything. We are seeing this year how important it is to have depth and while having those 2 under the numbers they are at, we can’t build the team out.
Edit: Ben and his number is interchangeable with whoever they get to replace him. The bottom line is Harris has to go. That contract is the death of this team.
Regardless of what they do with Ben, they need to figure out what they are doing with spots held by Furkan, Hill, Dwight, Scott, and Green. Whether is keep or minor upgrades.
I was going to say Love/Sexton for Harris again and realized I’m just tired of Love to anywhere. How does he not know he cannot move even to keep up. IDK maybe work out? It’s like IT all over again.
Nance says shush in my pic. I like Prince & Allen pics but they are FA still.
The best thing for Love would be BO, he retires, and he works on his mental health. Looks like the unhappiest millionaire in the NBA.
Figure out a way to get Nance in that trade and I’d be interested.
All of them can go as far as I’m concerned. They can take Shake with them.
Nice Sopranos reference by the OP. Too bad Tony had to whack him.
Agreed, I think Love is a buyout candidate until/unless he gets back on the court and starts producing again … for more than 8 games.
But a Sexton/Nance deal to me makes a lot of sense for Philly, IMO. Not sure how much more salary Cleveland would have to send or if it’s even feasible, but if they could make the money work I like it for both sides.
As bad as Simmons was in the playoffs I still think I’d rather have him than Wiggins, even with the 7/14 picks. Unless Morey really think there’s an impact guy(s) in that pick range.
The Sac offers sans Halliburton is trash to me. The Indy offer is a little enticing if I’m getting LeVert and Brogdon. Having those 2 guys on the perimeter w/ Embiid downlow has some appeal.
Ultimately, I don’t see Dame getting to Philly or NYC unless he specifically requests ONLY those two spots, which as you say may be the case.
I totally agree about Wiggins. I’d rather keep Simmons. Wiggins does absolutely nothing for me or the team I think.
Any Sac offer minus Fox or Haliburton is a non-starter.
I’m not a huge fan of the Indy offer but could probably be talked into it.
Running some numbers
Harris+Milton+Reed =$39.37m (36, 1.85, 1.5)
desirable in theory to Cavs.
matching salaries:
Nance+Love+Sexton =$48.34m (10.7,31.3,6.4)
A bit into luxury tax, prob no Lowery.
Could be Harris only:
Nance+Osman+Prince =$32.01m (10.7,8,15.1)
Saves 6ers $7.36m, makes room for Lowery
Scott can go, lots of perimeter players
I’m a huge fan of trading Harris. I think this is the highest his value will be with the team. If we are making this embiids team and not embiid/Simmons, team then it is time to make that happen. Get top value for Harris now. See what we can get for Simmons. Maybe a three team trade to get more for Simmons if we can move Harris as well in that deal. Morey is a walking trade machine so I am excited to see what he pulls off.
Trade Big Ben and 28 for Jax Hayes, 10 and a future pick.
I know sixers could get way way better for Big Ben but maybe throw in Nickeil and another pick and Philly would accept. They just need to get something for Big Ben that will be another trade piece or a piece if they are rebuilding all of a sudden. It would be and Underpay for Philly, but it could be a last resort if they don’t like any other offers before the next season.
Dream…Middleton. Dame. Klay.
Possible….Beal (everyone knows he wants out regardless of anything being fixed in dc) CJ. Fox.
Most likely…Wiggins and picks (they’d have to move draymond too or third team which is the only way I think any trade works is if a third team is involved. Simmons and dray can’t be on the same lineup).
I disagree with you, Simmons & Dray are almost made to play with each other, so there goes your point, right?
Not quite. Explain please. Draymond has no offense unless he’s in the paint. Simmons has no offense unless he’s in the paint (and even then he will just make a stupid pass out of the paint). Both great defenders. Klay gets hurt and/or Curry gets hurt, which both is likely unfortunately, then there’s nobody left to shoot considering what they have to give up to even get Simmons. It is an ideal fit but given the injury history and the fact that you would be taking the ball out of the best shooter in the worlds hands more doesn’t make sense. Unless you are keeping Curry at point and then what’s Simmons do? Stand still because he doesn’t know what to do without the ball unless he’s running a rub screen to get the ball? I like him traded to the west but just doesn’t work for GSW.
Ben will be a Sixer when the season starts because they aren’t getting that “star” player they think he’s worth. The question now is, what can we expect from him this upcoming season?
We know he’s not gonna attempt to shoot the ball. Sure, we’ll see him launch some from beyond the arc during practices and maybe even preseason. Come regular season he’ll go back to being the Ben we’ve all gotten to know. Will he now be reluctant to even drive to the basket and, outside of passing, be a total non-factor on offense? I’m of the belief that he will be unplayable in close games because of this. I think he’s damaged goods and will only drive his own value down if he stays with Philly. They are not going to get their perceived equal value for him, but hopefully it will be something close.
Does a sign & trade with New Orleans for Lonzo + picks move the needle? Could NO absorb the extra salary allowing us to save the difference to be spent on other pieces?
If he could do things without the ball in his hands, they could find something to do with him. He could be a great small forward but he doesn’t work around the court very well. Just dribbles and hands the ball off. Runs a circle. Comes back to the ball and takes a handoff. Then looks for embiid and sits back and watches the play finish. Kenton came into the league and didn’t have a backdown game or a three. He developed it pretty quickly. Simmons time is up. I think he stays on the team through the offseason and when morey has had enough, pulls the plug.
None of the players, I’ve seen mentioned in the posts aside from Lillard gets the 76ers where they need to be. Lillard and Embiid on the floor at the same time would be ridiculous. I like McCollum but he’s not a PG. The 76ers need to make the Blazers an offer they can’t refuse for Lillard. Embiid’s championship window is closing. They need to go all in.
If I had to bet I would say if Ben gets traded this summer it will be a 3 team deal.
If not, then I still think a deal around Sexton probably makes the most sense for both sides, I’m just not sure they can get their salary wise without Love, who I assume will be a dealbreaker on Philly’s end.
I also wouldn’t be shocked if they resort to trying to flip Harris for McCollum. That’s a desperation trade for both sides that probably won’t work, but both GM’s might have little choice but to attempt.
In theory it gets Ben off the ball, gives Philly a “closer” type player on the perimeter. A CJ-Curry-Thybulle-Simmons-Embiid closing 5 is maybe the nonsensical mix of shooting, playmaking, defense, and Joel Embiid that Philly needs.
Probably not though.
Who is handling the ball though? We need a PG