To no surprise, the 76ers were very active in the much anticipated opening hours of NBA Free Agency. Within minutes, the "Run It Back" scenario quickly evaporated. And by the next morning, you're looking at a very different starting five with excellent defensive potential, assuming everything follows through when the moratorium ends.
General Manager Elton Brand's first run at free agency certainly got a lot of reaction--good, bad and meh. For now, I'll give Brand a "B." Things could've gone better Sunday night, but by Monday morning the Sixers were still one of the better teams in the East, as well as the NBA.
1. The Sixers didn't want to offer Butler a max contract, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The good thing is, assuming the trade with Miami holds together, they didn't lose him for nothing. Josh Richardson is young, improving and will play defense.
If the Miami trade falls apart and Butler goes elsewhere in a situation that isn't a sign-and-trade, Brand's "B" drops to at least a "C," and probably further.
1. A power forward that allows Tobias Harris to play small forward.
2. A guy who can start at center when Joel Embiid needs a night off.
3. A proven veteran who can mentor Embiid.
Most importantly, he's not on the Celtics anymore. When he was, he gave Embiid and the Sixers fits. It's always a positive when you can take quality talent/assets from a rival. The Celtics did it to the Sixers with the Markelle Fultz-Jayson Tatum situation. The Redskins haunted the Eagles when they had DeSean Jackson. The Nationals would be better than the Phillies right now if they had Bryce Harper.
Horford's price may make you cringe, but he'll give you at least two good years, and probably more than that.
Don't be mistaken, Harris is a good player and was a borderline All-Star with the Clippers. He's able to light it up for over 20 points a night, and he's young enough to where he hasn't reached his ceiling. Again, five-years and $180 million dollars may make you cringe, but that's the price in today's NBA if you want good players. After what the Sixers gave up for Harris, to lose him to another team, maybe even the Clippers, would've been crushing for the franchise.
Losing either Butler or Harris is OK. Losing both is flat out bad. That didn't happen, and it was a win for Brand.
JJ Redick to the Pelicans was surprising, especially considering I feel the Sixers could've afforded the 35-year-old based on what he got from New Orleans. It makes me wonder--could Redick have waited longer from the Sixers moves to play out? Was he against waiting based on what happened last summer?
Regardless, the 76ers lost their veteran sharpshooter who hit big buckets for them and loved playing in this city. Not to mention, him and Embiid developed a beautiful two-man game between one another.
Something that should be high on Brand's list of things to do the rest of the off-season--replace Redick somehow, someway.
Brand deserves credit for retaining fan favorite Mike Scott. He adds depth to the bench, can spot start and is a respectable three-point shooter.
They are, and will be, the keys to this locomotive. Everything else is an accessory that adds value, but isn't the determining factor as to whether it moves forward.