The Philadelphia 76ers are at a crossroads this offseason. With new Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey ready to take the reins, the Sixers are now ready to make some moves.
Questions remain about the feasibility of three max contracts on one team, especially with those three players only averaging 48 games played last season. With multiple pending free agents, a clear lack of depth that undermined them in the playoffs and little money to work with this offseason, here are three under-the-radar free agents the Sixers could target.
Thomas Bryant has spent numerous years in the NBA, amassing nearly 400 regular-season appearances and 147 starts. This past season, Bryant averaged 12.2 minutes in 60 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds on 50.6% from the field and 35.9% from beyond the arc. Despite this offensive versatility, Bryant is routinely available on the open market for the veteran minimum salary. He only joined the Cavaliers after a playoff run with the then Eastern Conference Champion Indiana Pacers.
While Bryant is seemingly far removed from his time as a full-time starter in the NBA, the Sixers would be wise to at least take a look at the one-time NBA Champion. With current backup center Andre Drummond about to hit the open market, and Joel Embiid missing significant time due to injuries over the past few seasons, Bryant could prove to be a cheap and effective option for the Sixers to help mitigate those potential losses.
Russell Westbrook spent last season with the Sacramento Kings after signing a minimum contract late in the offseason. While it once seemed like Westbrook might be nearing retirement, he seemingly found a second wind last year with the Kings. At the age of 37, the former MVP and Mr. Triple Double appeared in 64 games for the Sacramento. Kings, starting in 58 of those matches.
Westbrook was productive in SacTown and showed flashes of the player he used to be. In 29.0 minutes a night, more than he’s had in any season since he was a Los Angeles Laker, Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds a night. While he wasn’t the most efficient player, shooting just over 42% from the field, his mix of playmaking, athleticism and leadership makes him an intriguing option for a Sixers team in need of secondary ball handling and creation.
Westbrook is especially interesting because of his recent willingness to take smaller roles for team success, as well as his relationship with Sixers forward Paul George. Westbrook bought in specifically with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets, ultimately leading him to two consecutive top ten finishes in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. Westbrook has also spent time, as previously mentioned, with George. The pair of stars first joined forces in Oklahoma City with the Thunder. After some years spent apart, Westbrook and George eventually found themselves as members of the Clippers. Should Westbrook be willing to take a smaller contract, the Sixers would be an interesting destination where he can get legitimate minutes while still contending for the playoffs.
Marvin Bagley III is still working to overcome being known as the player that the Sacramento Kings selected instead of Luka Doncic. While that's a tough label to shake, he's beginning to figure it out, as he showed with the Wizards and Mavericks this past season.
Signing with the Washington Wizards before heading to the Dallas Mavericks in the Anthony Davis trade, Bagley averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game over 60 total appearances. The most valuable aspect of his game, though, was the career high 61.8% field goal percentage.
While Bagley will never be able to justify his draft position, he can continue to carve out a significant role as an uber-efficient backup big man and with the Sixers injury history, there may be no better place to make a name for himself. While Bagley has never been someone to inspire awe at the NBA level, his offensive efficiency could make him a valuable bench player for the Sixers.
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