NBA Free Agency 2020: 5 offseason targets for the Philadelphia 76ers

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 01: Josh Magette #4 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 01: Josh Magette #4 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

5. D.J. Augustin, PG

D.J. Augustin may be the 2020 version of what Dewayne Dedmon was last offseason: the player every team wants to sign for the mid-level exception.

The 33-year-old point guard shouldn’t be a starter on a contender, but he’s tailor-made for a backup role. He came off the bench for all but 13 of his games with the Orlando Magic this past season and averaged 10.5 points, 4.6 assists and 1.2 triples in 24.9 minutes per game.

Augustin shot only 39.9 percent overall and 34.8 percent from 3-point range last year, but he shot 46.2 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from deep over the previous two seasons. He also knocked down 41.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot triples last year, which speaks to his ability to operate both on and off the ball.

That should make him especially enticing to the Sixers, who could use a secondary ball-handler to pair with Ben Simmons. Augustin could be the primary creator of the second-unit offense, but he’d also be a threat to knock down open looks off passes from Simmons.

Augustin would also add some much-needed pick-and-roll juice to the Sixers’ offense. He finished 53.8 percent of his possessions as a pick-and-roll ball-handler this past season, which ranked second league-wide behind only Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose. The Sixers finished only 13.2 percent of their possessions with a pick-and-roll ball-handler, the second-lowest mark of any team (ahead of only the iso-heavy Houston Rockets).

If a contender comes calling with the non-taxpayer MLE, Augustin may prefer that to the Sixers’ taxpayer MLE. But the Sixers have a clear need for a backup point guard with his skill set, so the opportunity to play a significant role in Philly could make them an attractive landing spot.