Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Philadelphia 76ers

By John Buhler

Apr 4, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) and guard T.J. McConnell (1) cover their faces as they talk on the bench in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Wells Fargo Center. The Brooklyn Nets won 141-118. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) and guard T.J. McConnell (1) cover their faces as they talk on the bench in the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Wells Fargo Center. The Brooklyn Nets won 141-118. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard TJ McConnell (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard TJ McConnell (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. A healthy backup point guard

This is the massive elephant in the 76ers’ war room. They need to get the point guard position right. It does not matter how well Brown coaches this team, unless the 76ers can get a reliable pair of ball handlers at point guard, this will be one of the worst teams in basketball.

The rampant turnovers and the lack of offensive efficiency almost directly correlate to the dismal play at point guard for the 76ers. T.J. McConnell is a darling of Brown’s for how fierce of a competitor he is, even though he is grossly over his skis at the NBA level.

Jerryd Bayless was brought in to be that reliable backup in Philadelphia at the point, but he succumbed to injury like so many on this 76ers basketball team. Philadelphia will have money this summer to overspend to sign a rotational point guard that will provide stability to the position. Maybe even orchestrating a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Ricky Rubio could be in the cards?

Point guard is also a position that Philadelphia could look to get better with their lottery pick. Philadelphia will presumably be picking in the No. 4 to No. 6 range this summer in a deep point guard draft. Finding a prospect that could coalesce with Simmons is key. If Philadelphia doesn’t want to get married to an unrefined talent, a Jeff Teague would be a tremendous fit at the point for the 2017-18 76ers.

Home/NBA Draft