Sixers Dive Into Free Agency

Daryl Morey finally showed up.

Reports are that the 76ers have made a huge splash on the first day that NBA teams can talk to free agents. While nothing is official, ESPN is reporting that the Sixers have signed free agent Paul George, gave Tyrese Maxey a maximum contract extension, and signed Andre Drummond. They’ve also re-signed Kelly Oubre.

Fans really can’t ask for more here. I’m actually most excited about the Sixers bringing back Drummond. He’s the best backup Joel Embiid has had in his career. The Sixers essentially gave away Drummond, along with Seth Curry, in the deal that got Ben Simmons out of town for James Harden. (I don’t know his current status, but maybe Morey can bring back Curry, too, and erase both Simmons and Harden from our minds.) Drummond averaged 8.4 points and 9 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game in Chicago last season.

The Maxey signing was the “must” for the team. I don’t think Maxey getting a max deal was ever in doubt, so it might not generate as much excitement as it probably should. I believe I’ve said it before, but this is Maxey’s team. He averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists last season. He’s actually listed as the “Points Leader” on ESPN.com despite Embiid averaging 34.7 points in 39 games. Maxey played 70. My only concern about Maxey is that he defers too much to the big man.

George, of course, is the headline move of the day and likely the off-season for the Sixers. A 9-time All-Star, he averaged 22.6 points in 74 games for the Clippers. At age 34, George is a win now move. A perimeter player, he’s here to be the third of a “big 3” scoring punch with Maxey and Embiid.

Oubre was a bit of a surprise for the Sixers last year, averaging 15.4 points, after signing a “minimum” contract last season.

The Sixers also signed Eric Gordon and drafted Jared McCain and Adem Bona. I’d be lying if I said I knew anything about these guys. Bona being a big man out of UCLA interests me the most as I think the Sixers need as much “insurance” at center / power forward as possible with Embiid at center.

It’s a good day for the Sixers. It should be enough to get them to an Eastern Conference Finals. It better be. Is it enough to get them past the Boston Celtics?

 

 

All stats per ESPN.com.