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The Sixers missed and missed their pursuit of LeBron James.
Of course, he gave them a meeting – that he did not bother to show himself – but it seems like the King has never been serious about his throne . Philadelphia
So now what? Kawhi Leonard's trade negotiations are still very much alive, but what if the price charged by the Spurs is too high? What do Brett Brown and the company do if plans A and B do not work?
There is no doubt that James' Sunday decision was disappointing, but now it's time for the Sixers to pick up the pieces. Here are their best options to the exclusion of an agreement Leonard
Re-sign JJ Redick (completed)
This always seemed to be the move if the Sixers hit James. Redick even acknowledged that he thought the Sixers should take their chances with James, even if it meant that the 34-year-old sniper could not come back.
Redick already has an incredible relationship with the current alignment. He has a great influence on the young locker room of the team. In addition to that, Redick has experienced one of his finest NBA seasons in 2017-18. The 12-year-old has averaged 17.1 points per career and shot 42% on three attempts at 6.6 at night.
Given the flexibility of the Sixers and how much Redick appreciated his time here, it was a no-brainer. Redick is back on a one year contract
Reinforcing the bench
There will not be many sexy names on this list, but there are players who can help the Sixers. The bench was abysmal last season before the arrival of Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova. Both players are gone, but it may not be such a bad thing. Both were exposed by the Celtics for their lack of athletics, especially on the defensive end.
The Chester native Tyreke Evans must be an option. Evans is coming out of a career year with a horrible team at Memphis Grizzlies. Evans scored 19.4 points per game, his best score since his rookie season of the year in 2009-10. He also shot more than 40 percent of three for the first time in his career. The defense is not his forte, but he will provide more athletically than Belinelli as a bench wing. Evans would meet the Lakers after already meeting the Thunder – although both teams might have trouble making money work.
Staying on the local front, native Wynnewood Wayne Ellington could be on the Sixers radar. Ellington is a shooting game, simple and clear. He shot 39 percent on a ridiculous 7.5 distance attempts last season. It is also excellent to get out of the screens and could give the Sixers a look similar to Redick on the bench. It is not a defensive responsibility and would represent an improvement of Belinelli in this regard. The heat would probably want to retain the services of Ellington.
If you're looking for defense, Avery Bradley is your guy. Bradley had a difficult year. After being traded by the Celtics for capping reasons, Bradley worked hard with the Pistons before being sent to the Clippers in the Blake Griffin case. He suffered a sports hernia injury just six games into his time in LA who finished his season. Bradley is one of the best defensive guards in the league. He is also an improved shooter. He is natural. The Warriors and Grizzlies would be interested in Bradley.
There is also Seth Curry . No, he's not Steph, but he's a great shooter on his own. The younger brother Curry missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his leg. Prior to that, he shot 43 percent of three in 114 games with Dallas the past two seasons. The defense will be a problem and it may not be a good fit next to T.J. McConnell is leaving the bench, but it will certainly help to solve the problems of spacing.
Then there is our old friend Luc Mbah a Moute who became a strong contributor to the Rockets. Mbah a Moute is what he is: a versatile player and a solid defender. He improved on his jumper, shooting 36 percent from three last season. Defensively, he would be a significant improvement over Ilyasova and has already played five times with Houston.
Last but not least is the restricted free agent Jabari Parker . Parker is intriguing but may not be suitable for Sixers. It is a forward combo that is better suited to play all four in the NBA today. With Dario Saric already in the fold, Parker would probably be a centerpiece. Parker was the second overall pick in 2014, but his career derailed due to injuries. He has a lot of talent and will be an intriguing player to watch going forward before he is in good health. The Bucks have extended a qualifying offer, which means that they can match any agreement. The market for Parker has yet to materialize, so if the price is right, it might make sense.
See What You Have
The Sixers were aiming high in the free agency and it did not work, but now not the moment to panic. You missed because of geography, not your list situation.
You still have two cornerstones at Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. There are a lot of question marks around Markelle Fultz, but he was the number one choice for a reason. You have to hope that star coach Drew Hanlen can rebuild the jump shot and the confidence of Fultz. Then there is Saric, who made a huge leap in the second year. Robert Covington and McConnell are also strong contributors.
There are other intriguing plays on the Sixers list. Jonah Bolden could make the trip from abroad. If that's the case, it offers outstanding athleticism and a hardnosed player on the bench with the ability to play all four and one small five ball. His shot has declined a little this season (31% against three), but it still has potential.
The Sixers also need to sort all their young wings. Justin Anderson, Timothy Luwawu-Cabarrot and Furkan Korkmaz all have intriguing traits, but none of them are sure of their contribution.
Anderson brings a strong physical presence in defense, but his shot is inconsistent. After a long end of the season, Luwawu-Cabarrot suffered injuries and inconsistencies last season. Korkmaz, too, has had a persistent injury and has yet to strengthen for the NBA level. All three were first round picks and it would be ideal if at least one of them realized his potential.
This is not ideal for the Sixers to enter the same season, but they may not have the choice.
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