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Tag: NBA Free Agency

  • Rankings the Last 6 Sixers’ Opening Day Rosters – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Rankings the Last 6 Sixers’ Opening Day Rosters – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After Jimmy Butler left, the Sixers have had a tough time building a roster worth of a championship. Between striking out on free agents to players holding out, there has not been much luck coming their way. Let’s take a look at how the opening day rosters stack up against each other after Butler’s departure.

    6.

    2021-2022

    Record: 51-31, 4th in East

    Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Andre Drummond, Georges Niang, Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, Charles Bassey, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe

    This was a disappointing, yet inevitable, beginning to the season. After such a terrible loss to the Hawks, where Ben Simmons passes up an easy bucket against Trae Young, Simmons received so much hate from fans and media, that he couldn’t play for the team anymore. He decided to hold out for a trade.

    Since Simmons held out, that really hurt the Sixers roster to start the year. They lost their all-star point guard and had to turn over the reigns to a second-year player with much to prove: Tyrese Maxey. This nonsense helped Tyrese Maxey’s growth tremendously by giving him so much playing time.

    Nevertheless, Maxey was nowhere near the player he is today, and the Sixers just didn’t have enough firepower from players other than Embiid to play that well to start the season. Tobias Harris never stepped up during his career here and no other player had the talent to help out Embiid.

    5.

    2023-2024

    Record: 47-35, 7th in East

    Roster: P.J. Tucker, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, De’Anthony Melton, Tyrese Maxey, Danny Green, Patrick Beverly, Kelly Oubre, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed

    Last year, the Sixers had to go through yet another season of conflict and strife. After just a year and a half removed from the Ben Simmons debacle, James Harden decided to hold out from the team too. This caused a lot of disdain from fans to organization and many people started to really lose interest (if they hadn’t already).

    Had James Harden stayed, the Sixers would have had a pretty good supporting cast for Joel Embiid. Even though he didn’t, they played well without him, going 22-10 from October to December. Unfortunately, disaster struck in this season later when Embiid tore his meniscus.

    Everyone knew they needed to get something in a trade to do damage in the playoffs, but the market did not have a big move in store for them which forced the Sixers to be compensated with draft picks and minor players. This season was over before it started just like when Ben Simmons held out.

    4.

    2019-2020

    Record: 43-30, 6th in East

    Roster: Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Mike Scott, Kyle O’Quinn, James Ennis , Raul Neto, Furkan Korkmaz

    Going into this season, the Sixers had high expectations. They have a solid core with an exciting young player in Josh Richardson to go along side of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris. Additionally, they just acquired Joel Embiid’s kryptonite (at the time). With Al Horford, Sixers fans imagined a dominant front court where no guard could come and score with two big men capable of scoring inside and outside of the three point line. Unfortunately, this team did not live up to expectations.

    After just a few months of play, everyone realized this team didn’t fit right. They lacked perimeter scoring more than anything. Horford and Embiid took away from each other much more than they built each other up. Because of these issues, the team was forced to make many moves during the season to bolster their depleted bench and lack of scoring.

    It’s important to note that this was the COVID year, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this team had major holes and would end up getting swept by the Celtics in the playoffs.

    3.

    2020-21

    Record: 49-23, First in East

    Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dwight Howard, Mike Scott, Furkan Korkmaz, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey

    After a year with lackluster shooting from the outside, the Sixers corrected that issue by signing Seth Curry and Danny Green – two players who shoot the three better than anyone they had the last year. These two can also hold their own on defense since they were only ever asked to guard the worst player. With defensive stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it made playing defense much easier for the rest of the team. They had the 2nd best defensive rating in the league that year.

    The Sixers were also excited to have offloaded Al Horford from the team and replace him with a backup-only center. He would strictly play minutes where Embiid wasn’t on the floor. While Howard boosted the teams worst trait (rebounding), he didn’t contribute much else. The Sixers rely on their centers to score, and he couldn’t do that well at all.

    For the first time in a while, the Sixers finished the regular season with the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference  (this was a shortened season because of COVID as well). This gave the city some very high expectation to go deep into the playoffs.

    The talent was there for this team, but mentally, Ben Simmons destroyed this team and would never be the same player again after the catastrophe in the 7-game loss to the Hawks in the postseason.

    2.

    2022-2023

    Record: 54-28, Third in East

    Record: P.J. Tucker, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Montrezl Harrell, Danuel House, Georges Niang, Matisse Thybulle, De’Anthony Melton.

    The Sixers finally got a star guard with MVP style play. James Harden was acquired by the team the year before via trade for Ben Simmons and the city yearned for a championship after so many years of disappointment – this finally seemed like the team.

    James Harden and Joel Embiid built chemistry through the latter half of the previous season and were expected to shine bright together as a dominant duo. They played very well together, but Harden’s ball dominant style presented some problems with Embiid’s incompatible similarity in his style.

    Luckily, Harden invested in his relationship with Tyrese Maxey which helped Maxey develop into a better version of himself. In his third year, Maxey started developing into a very solid player. This team also had talent to get the job done, but ended up falling short yet again.

    1.

    Current

    Record: TBD

    Roster: Ricky Council IV, Andre Drummond, Joel Embiid, Paul George, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre, Guerschon Yabusele

    Now, Tyrese Maxey is a bona fide star in the league. He and Embiid have great chemistry with each other and perfectly understand how to play along side the other. These two have grown so much together as a duo and have emerged as one of the best duos in the league.

    Then, finally, after waiting so long for a free agent star signing, the Sixers signed Paul George to accompany Embiid and Maxey on their quest to a championship. Many teams add stars just to add a star, but in this case, Paul George also happens to fit perfectly with these two. Their play styles compliment each other very well.

    The front office wasn’t finished after George, though. They also signed a power forward that will bring fire and intensity to the team. Caleb Martin will fit right into this city. He elevates his game when it matters, and plays with heart.

    Also, Andre Drummond is returning to Philly, where he served as Embiid’s best backup just a few years ago. By signing him and bringing Lowry and Oubre back, the Sixers have some continuity from years past. These players have played together before which will only help their chances of winning this year.

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • How Does This Sixers Team Compare to Last Year’s? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    How Does This Sixers Team Compare to Last Year’s? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Sixers have made the most noise in free agency this year than any other team. This has been the free agency that Sixers fans have waited on for many years. Now that the bulk of the moves are completed, how does this year’s team stack up to last year’s?

    Point Guard

    2023:

    • Kyle Lowry
    • Cam Payne
    • Patrick Beverly

    2024:

    • Kyle Lowry
    • Reggie Jackson
    • Jeff Dowtin Jr.

    As of now, the point guard position looks about the same caliber of last year. With the talent at other positions, the Sixers need veterans that can distribute the ball and not turn the ball over at the point guard position. With Kyle Lowry and Reggie Jackson, they should get that style of play. Jeff Dowtin Jr. is on a two-way contract, so he probably won’t see the floor too much unless there are some injuries.

    Some consider Tyrese Maxey a point guard, but with the addition of Reggie Jackson, him and Kyle Lowry should be taking the point, allowing Maxey to play at SG, his natural and more effective position.

    The PG position should remain very similar to last year.

    Shooting Guard

    2023:

    • Tyrese Maxey
    • Buddy Hield
    • Ricky Council IV
    • De’Anthony Melton
    • Jaden Springer

    2024:

    • Tyrese Maxey
    • Jared McCain
    • Eric Gordon
    • Ricky Council IV

    The Sixers revamped their SG position with a new young player (McCain) and a new vet (Gordon). Tyrese Maxey will take most of the minutes at this position and could improve even more since last year. If Maxey gets better – like he has in every season of his career – then this could be the Sixers’ strongest position on the team. He already won most improved player in his 4th year and now has bulked up quite a bit in the offseason. Maxey will be the Sixers’ X-factor.

    The Sixers also drafted Jared McCain this year. He is another undersized guard, but will have time to learn the game with Maxey ahead of him. There is no pressure for him to shine in the beginning of his NBA career which could help him grow.

    In the summer league, Ricky Council IV looked very good. He obviously belongs in a league above the G-league and could start making some plays in the NBA. He could become a good player for the Sixers or they could use him as a trade piece if he excels this year.

    Overall, the shooting guard position should look pretty good this year. If Maxey plays as well as last year (or better), then this will be a strong position for them and better than last year.

    Small Forward

    2023:

    • Robert Covington
    • Danuel House Jr.
    • KJ Martin
    • Kelly Oubre Jr.
    • Tobias Harris

    2024:

    • Kelly Oubre Jr.
    • Paul George
    • KJ Martin

    The biggest upgrade of the offseason came at this position with the acquisition of Paul George. Not many teams have a player with Paul George’s combination of scoring and defensive versatility. Paul George would upgrade the SF position on most of the teams in the NBA.

    Not only does Paul George add a ton of skill, but it may be even more noteworthy that Tobias Harris is gone. Tobias was a non-factor in the majority of games that he played in. Losing him and his near-max contract is addition by subtraction. That allowed the Sixers to go out and make big moves in the free agent market.

    Kelly Oubre could start for the Sixers, but it’s also possible that he may come off the bench. Kelly Oubre’s skill and energy off the bench will certainly provide scoring and defense for the team. We will have to wait and see what Nick Nurse decides the starting lineup will be.

    Power Forward

    2023:

    • Nicolas Batum
    • Marcus Morris
    • PJ Tucker

    2024:

    Losing Nicolas Batum is a bummer, but nobody should ever rely on a player with his skillset and age anyway. He had great defensive instincts, entry passes for Embiid, and could shoot the ball well. He will be missed, but the additions in other areas should make up for his loss.

    There’s not much depth at this position right now, but Paul George can move over to the PF if needed. Depending on the lineups, expect to see George at the 4 throughout the season at different times.

    Caleb Martin is a very underrated signing by the Sixers. He’s a hustle player that doesn’t need to score in volume and will provide solid defense and peskiness. Not only that, but he has historically raised his game in the playoffs which will come in handy for a team that lacks the mentality in the postseason. He’s undersized for his position, but having a strong defensive anchor like Embiid will help cancel that out.

    With Martin and George sharing responsibilities at the PF spot, the Sixers should look improved in this position.

    Center

    2023:

    • Joel Embiid
    • Mo Bamba
    • Paul Reed

    2024:

    • Joel Embiid
    • Andre Drummond
    • Adem Bona

    If Embiid’s healthy, then the Sixers never have to worry about this position and they will have the best player, but that doesn’t happen. Recently, the Sixers have not prioritized the backup center position. This positional value is higher for the Sixers because of Embiid’s injury history. Signing Andre Drummond should help the defense stay strong while Embiid is off the floor while also helping with rebounding. Paul Reed isn’t a bad player, but he wasn’t cutting it for the Sixers. Drummond should be able to keep the Sixers even with opponents while Embiid rests instead of going negative every time.

    Also, in the past the Sixers didn’t have any consistent offense coming from another position without Embiid. With Maxey’s improvements and now Paul George, they will not have to rely on a center to score points. The offense should be able to hold it down while Embiid rests.

    Conclusion

    Overall, the Sixers team looks a lot better on paper than it did last year. They’ve added a lot of pieces that look like they will fit with this team well. Obviously it comes down to whether they can get out of the second round of the playoffs, but for now we can look at a much improved team than last year. Adding Paul George should make this season a lot more fun to watch.

     

     

    Picture from Kyle Ross

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • The Celtics Sale, USMNT’s Flop, Lakers Hail Marys, and ‘The Bear’ Season 3 With Rob Stone and Van Lathan

    The Celtics Sale, USMNT’s Flop, Lakers Hail Marys, and ‘The Bear’ Season 3 With Rob Stone and Van Lathan

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    The Ringer’s Bill Simmons updates his NBA tier list after the latest free agent moves and then discusses what he thinks Danny Ainge’s plan is with Lauri Markkanen, why the CBA is broken, and the thought process behind Wyc Grousbeck’s decision to sell his stake in the Celtics (02:06). Next, Bill is joined by Fox Sports’ Rob Stone to discuss the disappointing USMNT loss to Uruguay, debate whether Christian Pulisic is good enough to be the best player on a team, talk about the lost opportunities to capitalize on soccer interest in the country, and more (31:39). Bill is also joined by Van Lathan, and they talk through the drafting of Bronny James, the hope they have for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F to be decent, what will happen with Joe Biden, the Kendrick Lamar–Drake beef, and their thoughts on Season 3 of FX’s The Bear (55:24).

    Host: Bill Simmons
    Guests: Rob Stone and Van Lathan
    Producers: Steve Ceruti and Jessie Lopez

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS

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    Bill Simmons

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  • Sixers Make Moves in First Two Days of Free Agency – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Sixers Make Moves in First Two Days of Free Agency – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After years of hoping, wishing, and wanting, the Sixers finally got the best player available in free agency – and they didn’t even have to trade for him! Most people woke up to surprising good news on Monday morning when they heard the Sixers signed Paul George. Daryl Morey could finally make something happen when given cap space heading into an offseason.

    The Case for Paul George

    Let’s start with the bad side.

    Some people had and still do have skepticism about signing Paul George. He has played 14 seasons in the NBA already and recently turned 34. Not ancient, but definitely not young for NBA standards. Those concerns hold weight – especially given his injury history. In the last 5 years, he has only played 60 games in one of them. Luckily, that one season was last season, which gives hope to his health heading into this year. It’s no coincidence that he has his healthiest year once they found somebody else (James Harden) to dominate the ball and distribute.

    Enough with the bad, there is a lot more good to talk about with him.

    First off, he finished top 5 in 3-pointers made while shooting 41.3% and 45.4% on catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities. This kind of ability from beyond the arc will tremendously help the Sixers and Joel Embiid. Sending help off of Paul George will not happen, and if it does, all Embiid needs to do is find him and watch 3 points go up on the board.

    Secondly, as mentioned before, Paul George had his healthiest year last year when the Clippers acquired James Harden to primarily handle the ball. This allowed George to stay healthier throughout the year. He doesn’t have Harden anymore, but he has Maxey and Embiid as the first and second options which allows him to stay as option number 3. Hopefully this keeps him as healthy as possible throughout the year.

    Also, Paul George plays great defense. He might not do it as well as he used to, but he still averaged a steal and a half last year on the season. He’s 6’8″ with a 6’11” wingspan. Not many people have this gift of size matched with athleticism. He can guard all positions and will most likely take on the responsibility of guarding players like Tatum, Luka, Lebron, etc.

    In addition to defense, his size also allows him to create his own shot off the dribble. Maxey can do that, but has trouble in congested areas. Embiid can, but as a center it’s harder for him to quickly get a shot off and create space. With George’s quickness and size, he can create shots in crowded areas when he needs to.

    While Paul George is not the same player he used to be a few years ago, he is still a fantastic third option on a contending basketball team. Lots of people knock him for never winning, which is fair, he has never had a player like Embiid on his team. Not to mention what could happen if Maxey continues to improve.

    Returning Sixers

    Tyrese Maxey will return in a Sixers uniform for the next 5 years after signing a well deserved maximum extension worth $205 million. The Sixers’ 21st pick in the 2020 draft has panned out better than anyone could have hoped. Imagine how much better Maxey will continue to improve in the coming years. He has the brightest future out of any player on the Sixers.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will also return to the Sixers on a 2-year 16.3 million dollar deal. It’s nice to see a player like Oubre stick around after bouncing around the league for a lot of his career. He just needs to stop riding his bike in the streets and everything will be ok.

    After getting traded away to the Nets, then playing in Chicago, Andre Drummond signs a 2-year $10 million deal to come back to Philly. Most consider Drummond one of Embiid’s best backups during his career, so it’s good to see him return. His knack for rebounding and clogging up the defensive lane should help the Sixers during the Embiid-less minutes. His offense is limited, but Paul George and Tyrese Maxey hold all the responsibility now on offense without Embiid. Drummond’s game plan needs to stick with setting screens and dunking the ball.

    New Sixers

    So far, only one player comes to Philly brand new this offseason: Eric Gordon. He signed a veterans minimum for one year. He’s a classic vet who enters his 18th season this year. He’s a consistent 37% career 3-point shooter who you’d expect to see play less minutes this year than last (27). He’ll give us a few threes a night and play decent defense.

    The Job’s Not Done

    Currently, the Sixers only have 8 players signed, plus their two draft picks.

    Joel Embiid, C

    Andre Drummond, C

    Paul Reed, PF/C

    Paul George, SF

    Kelly Oubre Jr., SF

    Ricky Council IV, SF

    Tyrese Maxey, PG

    Eric Gordon, SG

    With the only PG on the team being Maxey, expect the Sixers to aggressively pursue a PG in the coming days. Maybe they go after Kyle Lowry and resign him, but they could go after other options like Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, or (hear me out) Markelle Fultz.

    I would love to see Tyus Jones sign with the Sixers. He averaged over 7 APG on the Wizards which is impressive given the option he has to pass to on that team.

    Markelle Fultz is a very interesting candidate. He will most likely resign with the Magic, but I would welcome him back to Philly since plays well and can really help a team with his shot creating abilities. He has become a good NBA player, but not what we expected when he went #1 in the 2017 draft.

    The Sixers also need to sign a true PF. They have plenty of SF’s, but they need a bigger body down there, and preferably one that can rebound well. Paul Reed could transition to PF, but in all likelihood, his time has come to an end here.

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • Report: Sixers to sign Paul George to four-year contract

    Report: Sixers to sign Paul George to four-year contract

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    It happened: the Sixers have an agreement with Paul George on a four-year contract that will bring the nine-time All-Star to Philadelphia, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

    George is projected to earn a total of $212,205,000 over the life of the max contract that will run from his age-34 season through his age-37 season. According to Wojnarowski, the fourth year of the deal contains a player option.

    Season (George age) Salary
    2024-25 (34) $49,350,000
    2025-26 (35) $51,817,500
    2026-27 (36) $54,285,000
    2027-28 (37, player option) $56,752,500

    Ever since the trade that sent James Harden to the Clippers at the beginning of last season — which netted the Sixers role players on expiring contracts and future draft picks — it was abundantly clear that Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and his front office were gearing up for the chance to add another high-profile name to their present All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this offseason. Nearly a year later, their hopes have become reality.

    George, considered by many to be one of the best two-way wing players of his era, has averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game over the course of his impressive NBA career, while posting a career 38.5 three-point percentage as one of the highest-volume long-range shooters in the world.

    The move ends a five-year partnership with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, after George forced a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Clippers to team with Leonard and try to win a championship in his home state of California. Many expected George and Leonard to lead the Clippers to the promised land, but they never reached an NBA Finals due to a combination of injuries and playoff letdowns.

    The Clippers were reportedly never willing to offer George a four-year deal — Leonard, who had been on the same timeline on George contractually, inked a three-year extension last winter — and evidently, the Sixers had no hesitation pulling the trigger on a contract with that sort of framework.

    NBA free agency: Is Paul George the Sixers’ missing piece?

    There are fair reasons to wonder if this is the right path forward for the Sixers: he is 34 years old, has an extensive injury history and, like the team he is set to join, has a reputation for falling short in the playoffs. Some believe that the Sixers would have been better off spreading out their massive cap space around to sign multiple quality role players in a vote of confidence that Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can be the lone stars for a championship team.

    But the Sixers have long signaled that a three-star model was their preferred form of roster construction and privately appeared to be of the belief that they had a very real chance of landing George despite conflicting reports about whether or not mutual interest actually existed.

    Signing George will occupy the vast majority of the Sixers’ cap space, with the remainder going to Andre Drummond and the team using its room Mid-Level Exception on Kelly Oubre Jr.

    In order to sign George, the Sixers have to renounce their Bird rights to several free agents, meaning they can no longer exceed the salary cap in order to sign them — they can only sign them to deals using the aforementioned MLE or a veteran’s minimum contract. The players who will need to be renounced include Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Nic Batum, Robert Covington and De’Anthony Melton. This does not definitively rule out returns for all five, but it does make bringing them back into the fold more difficult to pull off. 

    Sixers free agency primer: Literally everything you need to know

    As the Sixers have demonstrated here, though, they are far more concerned by who their team’s third star is than who their key reserves are. They are of the belief that teams win with as many stars as possible. So, in their view, the hardest part of building a championship team is done, with Embiid, Maxey and George being a three-man unit prolific enough to anchor a championship team in their eyes. Now it is up to Morey and co. to surround their new prized trio with the proper supporting cast to challenge the likes of the Boston Celtics and other Eastern Conference contenders.

    Give the Sixers this: whether one agrees with signing George being the right path for them to travel, the team spent an entire year plotting for this very moment and were able to pull off exactly what they hoped to execute. Paul George is a Sixer.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

    Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • How the Sixers can sign Paul George and trade for Lauri Markkanen this offseason

    How the Sixers can sign Paul George and trade for Lauri Markkanen this offseason

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    News broke just over 24 hours before the start of NBA free agency on Sunday evening that Los Angeles Clippers star wing Paul George is opting out of his contract and entering free agency, with the Sixers looming as a “legitimate threat” to sign the nine-time All-Star.

    The Sixers have been positioning themselves for this moment for the better part of a year as their quest for the ideal third star next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey continued. 

    But what if they found a fourth star, too?

    Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz has become one of the most dynamic offensive forwards in the entire NBA over the last two seasons, a genuine three-level scorer who can put the ball in the basket at the highest of levels. As he enters the final year of his current contract, reports have circulated that teams are monitoring whether or not Markkanen, who is only entering his age-27 season, could become available for trade in the near future.

    Sixers free agency primer: Literally everything you need to know

    It could take a massive amount of draft picks to woo the Jazz — rightfully so given how good the Finnish seven-footer has become. But if it is possible, the Sixers are armed with a collection of future first-round selections to make a competitive offer.

    Pulling off a trade for Markkanen after signing George to the maximum offer he is expected to command — which is projected to be worth $49,350,000 in its first season — would be extremely tricky.

    But after a few hours of crunching numbers and asking various salary cap experts, it does seem that this path is feasible if things broke right: that is, the Sixers could theoretically put these four players together without violating any of the league’s salary cap rules.

    Before we get to all of the salary cap machinations, it is worth pointing out that there are some potential downsides to doing this: Markkanen is, of course, due for a new and hefty contract soon. The Sixers’ financial flexibility after assembling this hypothetical four-star unit would be incredibly limited, resembling the hellish situation the Phoenix Suns are currently in. There is a real argument to be made that going down this road would be reckless, giving the Sixers a one- or two-year window at best and then putting them in an extremely precarious position.

    But with the Boston Celtics looking like a juggernaut and teams like the New York Knicks pushing all of their chips in, it is not unreasonable to expect the Sixers to do the same — and if there was ever a group of four players to do it for, it would be this one.

    So, come on a journey with me as I outline the path to building a team featuring Embiid, Maxey, George and Markkanen:

    Step No. 1: Renounce all free agents other than Maxey

    According to the projections of salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan on capsheets.com, if the Sixers renounce the rights to all of their free agents other than Maxey — Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Lowry, Mo Bamba, Jeff Dowtin Jr., KJ Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr., Cam Payne and Terquavion Smith — they would have $54,781,404 in cap space. That is our starting point in this exercise.

    Step No. 2: Sign Paul George to max contract

    The first year of George’s max contract is projected to be worth $49,350,000. His deal eating up that chunk of salary cap space trims their cap room to $5,431,404. But, the NBA salary cap has something called incomplete roster charges: when a team does not have at least 13 players who they either have under contract or own the Bird rights of, the team is charged one rookie minimum salary against their cap space for each number below 13 that they are at. 

    So, signing George would remove one incomplete roster charge, which is projected to be valued at $1,160,564. So, that gives the Sixers $6,591,948 in cap space.

    Step No. 3: Trade for soon-to-be salary filler

    When a team makes a normal in-season trade, any player they trade for cannot be traded along with other players for a certain period of time. Free agent signings are not allowed to be traded at all until Dec. 15. But if a team absorbs a player into their cap space via trade, that player can be rerouted at any time, and they are allowed to be aggregated with other salaries.

    So, the idea here is that the Sixers would use this $6.5 million or so of cap space to absorb salary via trade so that they can eventually be sent to Utah in a Markkanen deal.

    There are a few players on expiring contracts who they could likely acquire from teams for little to no cost. Reggie Jackson of the Charlotte Hornets, for example, will make $5,250,000 next season and has no place with his new team in the short- or long-term.

    Of course, the Sixers would only perform Step No. 3 if they knew Step No. 4 was going to immediately follow:

    Step No. 4: Trade for Lauri Markkanen

    This is, of course, the hardest part — and the component of this plan that makes it the hardest to see actually coming to fruition. First, the Jazz have to decide that they are ready to move Markkanen. Then, the Sixers have to hope that no other team makes a stronger offer than what they are capable of. Unfortunately for the Sixers, there are teams out there with stronger collections of future first-round picks, so even if the Jazz did decide it was time to trade their best player, it is not exactly a lock that the Sixers could get him if they want to do so.

    So, the structure of the trade would be Markkanen going to the Sixers in exchange for Paul Reed, Ricky Council IV, whichever player(s) they acquire to satisfy Step No. 3 and a collection of future draft picks.

    A quick note: the Jazz are the team that signed Reed to his unusual three-year deal last summer, before the Sixers matched the offer sheet and ensured he would return to Philadelphia, so it is entirely plausible that Utah would value him to some extent beyond just being salary filler.

    Again, though, things would need to break right for the Sixers to make this offer appealing to Utah beyond its simple legality.

    Step No. 5: Find depth

    With George and Markkanen secured in this hypothetical world, the Sixers would have the room mid-level exception — worth a hair over $8 million — and veteran’s minimum contracts to fill out the remainder of their roster. They could choose to offer the entirety of that MLE to one player in hopes of finding a strong fifth starter, or they could split it up among two viable rotation contributors.

    Step No. 6: Sign Tyrese Maxey to max contract

    This will be the Sixers’ final piece of business officially, but it will be their easiest: Maxey will agree with the team on a five-year contract worth just below $205 million.

    And just like that, Embiid, Maxey, George and Markkanen would all be on the same roster. Take a deep breath.

    Step No. 7: Hope for a title next season, because tough times are coming

    Putting these four incredible talents on the same team in today’s NBA would be a remarkable feat in itself, even just on the level of displaying tremendous creativity. But beyond the 2024-25 season, the team would be in an unspeakably disadvantageous situation from a financial standpoint moving forward if they were to re-sign Markkanen.

    One final disclaimer: none of this is to say the Sixers are going pull all of this off, or that it is a remotely realistic outcome, or even that they should attempt to do it if it was possible. It is merely an attempt to outline the procedural path to assembling a roster featuring these four-star players.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Report: Rumored Sixers target OG Anunoby returns to Knicks

    Report: Rumored Sixers target OG Anunoby returns to Knicks

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    The New York Knicks just keep on pushing their chips in: not even 24 hours after acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, the team agreed to a five-year, $212.5 million deal with OG Anunoby, solidifying themselves as having one of the best and most versatile wing tandems in the NBA.

    Early indications following the Bridges trade were that the Knicks were still going to prioritize keeping Anunoby in the fold — even if it meant losing center Isaiah Hartenstein — and those whispers were true. 

    It is a massive deal for Anunoby, a wonderful player in his own right but not exactly a star-caliber player as of now. The Knicks appear to have locked in a core that includes Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride. Not too shabby.

    With the Sixers’ reported pursuit of Paul George reportedly dying out and the team seemingly looking elsewhere, many connected them to Anunoby as they seek a high-profile player to put next to their All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, with a wing being the ideal form of said player.

    But with Anunoby securing a five-year deal worth an average of $42.5 million per year to remain in New York, it is evident that the Sixers likely never stood a chance of prying him away: the most they could have offered Anunoby was a four-year deal worth $181,890,000, good for an average annual value of $45.4 million.

    It is hard to imagine Anunoby leaving an ideal situation for him in New York and sacrificing the security of a fifth year for a very slight bump in annual pay. And, to be frank, the Sixers signing him to that hypothetical deal would have set off massive alarm bells.

    Anunoby is a great player who would fit well on just about any team, and impacts winning on both ends of the floor. But he is not nearly as good of a scorer as the vast majority of players in his new price range and fits best as a fourth option on offense (which is what he will be in New York moving forward). Additionally, he constantly grapples with injuries that prevent him from staying on the floor consistently. 

    It is entirely understandable for the Knicks to pay him whatever was required to keep him around as they go all-out in their pursuit of a championship — even if the contract has a high probability of aging poorly. But the Sixers avoided potential catastrophe here.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Knicks trade for Mikal Bridges, raising the stakes for Sixers in pivotal offseason

    Knicks trade for Mikal Bridges, raising the stakes for Sixers in pivotal offseason

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    An absolute stunner broke late Tuesday night, with fewer than 24 hours remaining before the start of the 2024 NBA Draft: the New York Knicks will acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a package including four unprotected first-round picks, a lightly-protected first-round pick and a future first-round pick swap, as was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

    Already referred to by many as the “Villanova Knicks,” New York now has four former Wildcats set to be critical pieces of their rotation moving forward: Bridges, superstar guard Jalen Brunson, sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo and do-it-all wing Josh Hart.

    With the Boston Celtics firmly cemented as the Eastern Conference’s best for the time being, the Knicks have chosen Bridges as the piece worth cashing in the vast majority of their assets for in hopes of catching up to defending champions. And now, there is more than one team that is head and shoulders above the Sixers in terms of present day talent.

    Perhaps the most obvious ripple effects this move has on the Sixers are that there is another team in their conference with the potential to seriously contend for a championship, and that Bridges — seen by many as an ideal fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — is officially off the table.

    The intrigue of these four storied college teammates joining forces in the pros is fascinating, and the Knicks are filled with great players who are likable characters. But it is fair to wonder if four unprotected picks and several other assets for a player who has yet to make an All-Star team is the right path forward. Bridges is tremendous, and will fit like a glove in New York, but is he good enough to warrant a collection of draft choices like this? For what it’s worth, this archetype of trade has come back to bite the team acquiring the “star” more often than not.

    But, to be fair, with the Celtics not going anywhere, New York doing all they can to maximize their championship window now that Brunson has emerged as a full-fledged superstar is understandable, and to a degree, even commendable.

    Bridges, who the Sixers infamously drafted in 2018 before trading him to the Phoenix Suns during his introductory press conference in which he donned a Sixers hat, has become one of the most respected two-way wings in the entire NBA, and since being the centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade that sent him to Brooklyn, he has made major strides as a scorer. He was overtasked as a go-to scorer in Brooklyn, and that will not be an issue anymore as he reunites with Brunson.

    The next domino to fall here is the status of soon-to-be Knicks free agent OG Anunoby. As recently as Tuesday evening, it appeared Anunoby had enough negotiating leverage to receive just about any contract he desired from New York this summer. Now, with Bridges in the fold, the Knicks are not exactly desperate to bring Anunoby back. 

    If the Knicks were to let Anunoby fetch offers elsewhere and contemplate leaving New York, the Sixers loom as a potential fit for the acclaimed two-way wing.

    Early indications are that the Knicks will prioritize reaching a deal with Anunoby in the near future, which would signal the exit of incumbent starting center Isaiah Hartenstein. But it is not difficult at all to imagine a world in which the Knicks —with DiVincenzo, Bridges, Hart and Julius Randle all under contract moving forward — opt not to give Anunoby the massive deal he is seeking and instead solidify their center position by bringing back Hartenstein.

    As for the Nets, this was the right move: Bridges is a tremendous player, but was not leading the Nets anywhere promising in the near future given his lack of support. Accumulating as many draft picks as possible and accelerating the team’s rebuild was always the right call, and they furthered those goals by promptly trading a few of Phoenix’s future picks to the Houston Rockets to regain some of the draft capital they sent Houston when they acquired former Sixer James Harden a few years back. Word quickly trickled out that Houston wants to offer those picks back to Phoenix to try to get Durant.

    We have reached maximum levels of chaos, and tonight I am grateful I do not cover the Brooklyn Nets or Houston Rockets.

    Another question: how does all of this impact the free agency of Paul George? First the Sixers seemed like a very possible destination for the nine-time All-Star, then they were out, now there are conflicting reports regarding their interest in the star wing who has yet to strike a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the last few days, there was steam behind the idea of George forcing a sign-and-trade from the Clippers to a contending team without the requisite cap space to sign him on their own — perhaps using the threat of heading to Philadelphia as leverage to force the Clippers’ hand — but many speculated that destination would be New York. They are almost certainly out of those talks now (if they ever took place to begin with), which could reopen the George-to-Philadelphia door.

    If the events of late Tuesday night are any indication, nobody actually knows what is in store over the course of the coming days and weeks. But it is going to be madness, and the Sixers could end up being right at the center of it all.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • NBA free agency: Is Paul George the Sixers’ missing piece?

    NBA free agency: Is Paul George the Sixers’ missing piece?

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    Since the beginning of the 2023-24 Sixers season, reporting, on-the-record quotes and contextual clues have all told the same story: President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has his sights set on adding another star-caliber player to the team’s All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this summer. With the constant player movement that has helped define this era of NBA basketball, it may be impossible to guess who that third key cog will be for the Sixers.

    Let’s evaluate the likelihood as well as the pros and cons of the Sixers adding Paul George this summer.

    George, who turned 34 years old earlier this month, is expected to decline his player option with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2024-25 season and become an unrestricted free agent. While there appears to be considerable interest from both George and the Clippers in a long-term reunion, the sides appear to be far apart in contract negotiations that have been going on since the beginning of this season. George’s co-star, Kawhi Leonard — who was also set to have the opportunity to become a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season — inked a three-year extension with the Clippers in January. George was expected to follow suit, but never agreed to terms with the team.

    MORE: Paul George is ‘Plan A’ for Sixers this summer

    George has become known as one of the great two-way wings of his era, a career 20.8-point per game scorer with four All-Defensive Team honors to his name.

    George has become one of the sport’s most consistent and highest-volume three-point shooters. Over the last nine NBA seasons, George has made 39.2 percent of his shots from beyond the arc while taking nearly 4,500 total three-point attempts. With the ability to shoot off the catch and off the dribble at 6-foot-8 with a high release point, he is one of the best in NBA history at getting three-point shots up at a high rate. But George has also used his very impressive frame to earn a reputation as one of the league’s best wing defenders, particularly among high-usage offensive players.

    For all of these reasons, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported Monday morning that signing George is considered to be the Sixers’ primary objective this summer.

    This makes sense: George’s on-court fit with Embiid and Maxey is pristine, the Sixers are aiming to win a championship next season and he may be the single best player attainable for the team this offseason.

    In theory, George is the absolute perfect third star to play in between Maxey and Embiid: he should be able to play alongside either or both of them and take over the team’s offense in spurts when necessary while also bolstering the team’s wing defense. The key words: in theory.

    As clean as the fit seems on paper for George in Philadelphia, there are some significant reasons to be worried about whether signing him to a massive, long-term contract is a viable long-term solution to the Sixers’ current issues, as it might create new problems down the line.

    Let’s start with the drawbacks of George as a player: in the last four NBA seasons, he has played an average of 53.7 games per regular season. Once an iron man of sorts, he has developed a lengthy injury history in recent seasons that has damaged his durability. Meanwhile, George’s production as a defender lags far behind his reputation at this point — he does not expend nearly as much energy as he used to on that end of the floor (which is to be expected as he grapples with the aging process and a long list of injuries, but is still a cause for concern).

    There is no doubt that George is still a tremendous offensive talent: he has averaged 24.1 points per game over the last six regular seasons with an impressive 58.8 true shooting percentage, is a true three-level scoring threat, and has even improved his passing — once considered a bit of a hole in his game.

    But, for what it is worth, George has developed a reputation as a player who shies away from the moment when the playoffs come around. Not dissimilar to Embiid, he has still been a good player in those moments, but has clearly not reached his full potential. His efficiency takes a dip in the postseason most years (not too uncommon, in a general sense), and he has been part of several ugly, disappointing playoff exits.

    On the day the Clippers were eliminated from the first round of the NBA Playoffs earlier this month at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks — a game in which George shot 6-18 from the field — Robert Flom, who covers the team for 213Hoops, summed up concerns about George’s playoff production as they relate to the Sixers succinctly:

    “Sixers fans who want their max players to be aggressive in key moments are in for a world of disappointment if PG does end up there.”

    Speaking of a maximum contract, the price of adding George is another significant factor here that could lead the Sixers to be nervous. In order to pry George away from his home state of California and the Clippers, the Sixers will likely have to offer him the most they possibly can — and not a single penny below it.

    While the Clippers have the advantage of being able to offer George a five-year deal, it seems nearly impossible that they would go to those lengths given George’s age and injury history. Leonard’s three-year deal may have been an attempt at setting a precedent for George’s future deal with the team — if one is to actually come to fruition.

    If the Clippers stick to that timeline, the Sixers have a chance to usurp them by offering George the longest deal they are allowed to, a four-year pact. Because George has more than 10 years of NBA service, his maximum contract starts at 35 percent of the salary cap. If he signs with the Sixers, he can receive raises of up to five percent each season. Here is what George’s maximum contract would look like if he came to Philadelphia:

    Season (George age) Salary
    2024-25 (34) $49,350,000
    2025-26 (35) $51,817,500
    2026-27 (36) $54,285,000
    2027-28 (37) $56,752,500

    That comes out to four years and $212,205,000 — a staggering number, even for a player with George’s track record.

    To create the requisite salary cap space to sign this deal, the Sixers would need to gut their roster by renouncing the vast majority of their free agents. Letting go of Tobias Harris will not hurt; watching Buddy Hield walk would not be a crushing blow either. But signing George might make it impossible for the team to bring back someone like De’Anthony Melton, who could potentially be signed to another deal below his market value after dealing with two years of back injuries.

    Of course, in a vacuum, swapping Melton for George while letting two high-priced disappointments in Harris and Hield sign elsewhere is a promising proposition. But if the Sixers renounce nearly all of their free agents to sign George, they will have very limited resources to fill out the rest of their roster.

    The best the Sixers could do in terms of keeping their own free agents in-house after a theoretical deal George addition would be keeping their rights to Maxey — who is primed to sign a five-year contract of his own worth $204,450,000 this summer — as well as two of their players who were on veteran’s minimums this season (likely Kelly Oubre Jr. and either Cam Payne or KJ Martin). That would mean they lose their ability to go over the cap to sign whichever of Payne and Martin they do not retain, as well as Melton, Nic Batum, Kyle Lowry and others — all of these players would only be able to sign with the Sixers for their minuscule remaining cap space, a salary cap exception or a veteran’s minimum deal.

    Spending nearly $50 million on a player next season will be well worth it for the Sixers if that player genuinely elevates them into championship status. But the idea of paying George over $56.7 million in 2027-28, when he will be 38 years old by the time the playoffs end, is daunting.

    On paper, George could not be a better fit alongside Embiid and Maxey to form a dominant trio in Philadelphia which could compete with anybody in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. But, like most matters with the Sixers, it is just never quite that simple. While the upside of inking George to the four-year deal he would likely command from the team is palpable, so are the massive risks that come with such a move.

    MORE: Sixers offseason FAQ

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Report: Sixers to sign Kyle Lowry

    Report: Sixers to sign Kyle Lowry

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    According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers are expected to sign 17-year veteran guard Kyle Lowry once Lowry completes a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets.

    Charlotte acquired Lowry via trade from the Miami Heat earlier this month along with a first-round pick in exchange for Terry Rozier. But considering Lowry is 37 years old on an expiring contract and the Hornets are a rebuilding team focused on youth, there was little incentive on either side for the two parties to stick together.

    Now Lowry, a Philadelphia native, will finally play for his hometown team after years of rumors about the team’s interest in the Villanova product. After the trade which sent Patrick Beverley to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Cameron Payne and a second-round pick, the Sixers are without a solidified option at backup point guard. Payne has had a decent season up to this point, but Lowry’s track record is far more impressive.

    In addition to returning to his hometown, this will be a reunion for Lowry, who will once again play under Nick Nurse, the Sixers’ first-year head coach who won a championship with Lowry when the two were with the Toronto Raptors.

    Lowry is averaging 8.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 28.0 minutes per game this season across 37 games with the Heat — 35 of which were starts.

    Lowry can serve several roles with this Sixers team, depending on what it needs from him. He can organize an offense and distribute the ball. He can play in and off-ball role and space the floor as an impressive three-point shooter. He can still defend, particularly against bigger guards and wings, due to his tremendous strength. 

    Lowry may not be the piece that puts the Sixers over the top. But he figures to make this team much better right off the bat.



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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Why Goga Bitadze Is Likely Not A Rookie Extension Candidate For The Indiana Pacers

    Why Goga Bitadze Is Likely Not A Rookie Extension Candidate For The Indiana Pacers

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    On Monday afternoon, there will be one more deadline for NBA clubs to monitor before the regular season starts this week. 2019 draftees and their teams have until 6 p.m. Eastern Time to agree to terms on a rookie scale contract extension.

    Extensions for players on rookie scale deals must be negotiated before the final year of their contract. So while almost all 2019 first round picks are entering the fourth season of their original deal, they must agree to an extension before Monday afternoon. Otherwise, they will play out the 2022-23 campaign on an expiring contract.

    If no extension is agreed to, the player would become a restricted free agent in the 2023 offseason should he receive a qualifying offer from his prior team. Any extensions that are agreed to, such as recent deals for Brandon Clarke and Jordan Poole, would kick in during the 2023-24 season.

    The Indiana Pacers had the 18th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and they used it to select center Goga Bitadze. Bitadze, a 23-year old interior player, just wrapped up a preseason in which he averaged 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He led the team in three-point percentage (75%) and was third on the team in field goal percentage (64.3%) during the exhibitions.

    “Rick [Carlisle, Pacers head coach], I have a lot of respect for him. Whenever he feels like I should play, I’m going to go out there and do 100%,” Bitadze said during the preseason. He is hoping to take a step forward this year. “That’s what I’ve got to do, just got to stay ready.”

    The three-year pro is currently eligible for a rookie extension, and he will be until the deadline on Monday. However, between Bitadze’s career so far featuring inconsistent impact, the Pacers salary cap situation, and the risks outweighing the reward, it seems unlikely that Indiana and the Georgian big man will agree to terms on a longer contract.

    Bitadze had the best season of his career in 2021-22, averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. After the All-Star break, he elevated his game even further and averaged 11.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to close out the campaign. His defensive impact improved, and his general feel for the game was noticeably better than it was during his first two seasons — his positioning and awareness were no longer liabilities.

    The bruising center showed important growth throughout the year, especially down the stretch. But the early portions of his season featured struggles and inconsistent play, which have been themes throughout his career. The Pacers had other bigs on the roster deserving of minutes, which made Bitadze’s role change often, but he struggled to string together consecutive good games until late January of his third season. Prior to that, his time in the pros featured inaccurate play finishing and timing miscues too often.

    It’s difficult to take a long-term gamble on that resume. Sure, the Bitadze that played well for his final 15 appearances of 2022 is worth investing in, but that is too small of a sample for the Pacers to have any confidence that they are making a smart financial decision. With another good, growth-filled season, the Georgian big man would prove that he is worthy of another contract, perhaps even with the Pacers. But that information can’t be discovered until after the rookie scale extension deadline passes.

    Another consideration for the Pacers in any negotiations with Bitadze is their salary cap situation. Indiana projects to have quite a bit of salary cap space next summer, even if they have Bitadze’s free agent cap hold on the books. Any extension for the center would likely start at a salary number that is below his cap hold — roughly $14 million, if he receives a qualifying offer — and that would technically free up some short-term cap space for the blue and gold.

    But with so much cap space potentially available, freeing up a tiny bit more in order to sign Bitadze to a risky extension would be a poor use of funds. If Bitadze has another strong season and proves to be worth more than he is right now, Indiana should be happy to pay him if they want to keep him around. Using their salary cap space on a proven young talent is better business than making a risky investment a year in advance.

    That is why the risks outweighs the possible reward for the Pacers in any potential Bitadze extension. He does not project to be a part of Indiana’s rotation to open the 2022-23 campaign, so committing funds to him now is a bet on growth that may not even be able to take place on the court during the coming season. If Indiana waits until the 2023 offseason to negotiate another contract with the young big man, they will have a better idea about the player he projects to be — and what role he could have on the blue and gold going forward.

    Frontcourt players Myles Turner, Oshae Brissett, Terry Taylor, and James Johnson all currently have expiring contracts for Indiana, so there could be minutes available in the team’s rotation in 2023-24. If Bitadze plays well enough this coming season to earn some of them, then the Pacers should be content to pay him what he is worth as a restricted free agent, assuming he fits their play style. If he doesn’t prove to be a rotation-level player, then Indiana may look for center help elsewhere. The risk that Bitadze doesn’t grow much this season, and is thus overpaid when Indiana’s roster situation is in flux, is not worth taking on for the Pacers since the reward is just that they would save a few million bucks on his next contract. Flexibility is important, and it’s something that the Indiana front office values.

    “Goga really made a couple shots that won the game for us,” Carlisle said this past Wednesday. “Ended up having two blocks. Played huge.” Bitadze finished with eight points in a Pacers comeback win.

    Technically, Bitadze could receive a designated rookie extension, but those are typically reserved for All-Star talents on rookie deals. Assuming that is out of the question, the Pacers can extend Bitadze beyond the 2022-23 season with a contract that would be anywhere from one to four seasons in length and could start at anywhere from Bitadze’s minimum salary all the way up to 25% of the salary cap. Raises from year to year are limited to 8% of the first year salary of the extension.

    Reserve big men such as Andre Drummond, Dewayne Dedmon, and Mike Muscala signed deals that were worth between $3-5 million in annual value this offseason. Can Bitadze grow into that level of player this season? Maybe. But there is little reason for the Pacers to bet that will happen and pursue an extension now instead of just signing the young center to a deserved contract in restricted free agency next offseason if he improves this coming campaign.

    The flip side of the coin is Bitadze’s thinking. It’s hard to imagine he would be interested in a long-term deal with the blue and gold right now. Since being drafted, the Georgian big has been buried on the bench behind Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, Isaiah Jackson and, on limited occasions, JaKarr Sampson. This season, it looks like Turner will be the Pacers starting five and Jackson will be his backup, with Jalen Smith getting some playing time at center as well.

    Why would Bitadze rush to sign a long-term contract with a team that doesn’t even have a role for him? Turner has been in trade rumors all summer and is playing on an expiring contract, so there could be minutes in Indiana’s rotation in the future. But without knowing what the roster looks like or what the plans are in the frontcourt, Bitadze may want to wait on an extension and see if a better situation with more opportunity appears next offseason.

    Generally, teams and players are both making a bet during rookie extension negotiations. Front offices are betting that they are getting their young player locked up on a contract that is fair at worst and an underpay at best. Players are betting that they are getting the most money that they could, even if they wait a year until restricted free agency, by signing a deal a full year in advance.

    With Bitadze and the Pacers, it’s difficult to imagine either side takes that bet. If Bitadze’s market value is $3-5 million, then it’s almost impossible to write up a contract that would look favorable and still make sense for the young center to sign. And for Bitadze, what extension offer from Indiana will be there that won’t be obtainable one summer later from either the Pacers or another team? And what extension offer would make sense for Bitadze to sign without assurances of playing time?

    With all these factors at play, it feels exceedingly unlikely that Goga Bitadze and the Indiana Pacers agree on a rookie scale extension. If Bitadze has a good season, the Pacers could be willing to pay him next offseason to be in their rotation going forward. If the center has an okay season, it may be beneficial for both sides to explore their options, both together and apart, in the 2023 summer. And if Bitadze has a bad year, the Pacers may not even want to keep him beyond the current campaign. All outcomes suggest that waiting is the best choice for both Indiana and Bitadze.

    “Right now, I’m feeling good,” Bitadze said of his health situation last week. If he can turn in a healthy, impactful season, then the Pacers and Bitadze can negotiate a new contract next summer. But for now, Indiana and the young big man don’t have enough incentives to push hard for a rookie scale contract extension.

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    Tony East, Contributor

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  • Indiana Pacers Sign Trevelin Queen To Two-Way Contract

    Indiana Pacers Sign Trevelin Queen To Two-Way Contract

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    The Indiana Pacers announced on Tuesday that they have signed guard/forward Trevelin Queen to a two-way contract.

    Queen, a 25-year old with one prior year of NBA experience, came to Indiana just two days after being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in training camp. The Sixers had to sort out a roster size crunch, and Queen was the first casualty after getting injured early in the preseason. Once he cleared waivers on Tuesday, the Pacers scooped him up.

    “He can score. He’s a dynamic scorer. He’s a bucket getter, to be perfectly straight about it,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Queen. “It’s an opportunity for us to get a young kid that’s talented.”

    Queen went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft after attending New Mexico State. He latched on with the Houston Rockets for training camp that year, but he was waived before the season. He spent all of his first campaign and the early portions of his second in the G League.

    During his second professional season, the Rockets signed Queen to a two-way contract. He played in ten games for Houston as a rookie, averaging 4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Despite some general struggles, Queen impressed with his scoring ability, using his athleticism to create looks for himself.

    The 25-year old took off in the G League during his second season. With the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Queen averaged 25.3 points per game during the regular season and put up solid rebounding and assist numbers. He did a little bit of everything, and his play was a big part of the Vipers’ successful season.

    Rio Grande Valley went on to win the G League title that season, and Queen’s abilities played a major part in the championship run. He was named the 2021-22 G League MVP for his efforts.

    Now, he brings his athleticism and scoring to the Pacers. Indiana has stated their desire to add athletes and shooters to their new-look team, and Queen can be both with some small improvements to his outside shot.

    Queen adds depth at the two and three spots for the Pacers. While the youngster may be better suited as a two than a three, he is still tall enough to play on the wing, and the blue and gold desperately need depth at that position.

    On a two-way deal, Queen will split time between the Pacers and their G League affiliate franchise — the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The Pacers have done well developing talent on two-way deals in recent seasons, and Queen will hope to continue that trend.

    The six-foot-six-inch guard will make just over $500k on the two-way deal, exactly half of the NBA minimum salary. He received $330k from Philadelphia on his deal for this season, so the guard will make roughly $830k this year if he finishes the season on his current two-way deal.

    Carlisle explained that it is unlikely Queen plays in the preseason for the Pacers as he recovers from a head injury and gets acclimated with a new franchise. He was in attendance for Indiana’s home preseason opener versus the Knicks on Wednesday.

    Queen adds to the Pacers long list of players 25 years old or younger. The team is entering a new era and is in a building year with several inexperienced players. They are hoping to ascend into the upper tier of the Eastern Conference in future seasons.

    Each NBA team is permitted to use a pair of two-way contract slots. Queen joins Kendall Brown as the Pacers two-way contract players. They will develop this season by splitting time between Indiana and Fort Wayne.

    The Pacers roster now stands at 19 players. The offseason maximum a team can carry is 20, so Indiana could technically add another player if they are so inclined. However, the deadline to get their roster down to 15 standard players plus two two-way players is early next week, so the Pacers may opt to keep their roster as is until cuts are necessary. Indiana finalizes preseason play on Friday versus Queen’s old team, the Houston Rockets.

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    Tony East, Contributor

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