Philadelphia 76ers Offseason Roster Decisions: Who Should Stay or Go?

The Philadelphia 76ers at a Crossroads: A Summer of Decisions

Calling this summer a crossroads for the Philadelphia 76ers may be a bit of an understatement. After failing to reach their goal of a Finals appearance or even a conference finals appearance for the seventh straight year, the Sixers will head into the offseason with almost their entire roster entering free agency.

As things currently stand, the only players under contract for next season are Joel Embiid, as well as Ricky Council IV and Jeff Dowtin Jr., both of whom had their two-way contracts converted to standard NBA deals during the season. Paul Reed’s contract is also no longer guaranteed after the Sixers failed to advance to the second round.

Tyrese Maxey will certainly be joining that list any day now. The team has waited as long as possible to extend him to preserve cap flexibility, but the time will soon come to pay the 23-year-old All-Star who also just took home the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Still on his rookie contract, Maxey will be a restricted free agent as well, meaning the Sixers can (and almost certainly will) match any offer he receives from another team.

That leaves 13 players the Sixers will have to make a decision on this summer. So, we are now posing that question to the Liberty Ballers community — how many of these guys should stay or go?

This week we’ll start by looking at the younger side of the roster before shifting focus on the older, higher-leverage free agents the Sixers may look to retain. Let’s get started.

Paul Reed

For much of this season, it didn’t look like this was even on the table. Because of a quirk in Reed’s contract, his $7.7 million contract for the 2024-25 season is not guaranteed due to the team failing to make it to the second round.

It would no longer be a shock if the Sixers decided to move on from Reed after a disastrous showing against the Knicks in the first round of this year’s playoffs. It certainly wasn’t his fault that Philadelphia’s offense was straight out incompetent when Embiid went to the bench, but he didn’t help things much either.

He looked overwhelmed anytime the ball came his way, and Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson had no problem picking his pocket or sending him back anytime he had the ball in his hands. He did little to keep the Knicks off the offensive boards or provide any sort of rim protection in the playoffs as well.

Now part of the defensive problems are stylistic issues. The Sixers play more traditional drop-coverage with Embiid while Reed is more of a switch-everything-one-through-five type of big man. The Sixers had a lot more success with that when they had more players who preferred to switch last season like James Harden and P.J. Tucker.

So should the Sixers just dump Reed and go bargain bin hunting for a drop big? That certainly wasn’t the answer last year with Mo Bamba. It’s also important to remember that Embiid produces in the top percentile offensively and defensively for centers, all players really. Any team that centered around one player will suffer a drop off when he goes to the bench.

Despite a rough showing in the playoffs, Reed appears to be a part of the Sixers’ plans going forward. When addressing reporters in his exit interview, Daryl Morey acknowledged that very few players from this year’s team could be back next season.

“Except for Nick Nurse, Joel, Tyrese and Paul and Ricky, we don’t know for sure who’s going to be back next year,” he said.

He mentioned in that same exchange that he likes some of the young core the team has, naming Reed and Council as a part of that specifically. Only time will tell if those guys are truly a part of the team’s long-term outlook or if Morey was just crossing his T’s and dotting his I’s on every player who is still technically under contract.

KJ Martin

One of the few Sixers who didn’t expressly say he would like to come back this season. Martin had quite a bit of an adjustment this season, getting traded from the Houston Rockets to the L.A. Clippers in the offseason, then getting shipped to Philadelphia a few games into the season.

Going from a lottery team to two contenders, fighting for minutes was something Martin had to adjust to. His 58 games this season were the least he’s played since his first year in the league in 2020-21.

He found a bit of a groove late in the year as a small-ball center, where his athleticism and defensive instincts could pop and his lack of shooting could be hidden. At his exit interview, Martin said it was tough to figure out his role on a new team without a training camp to do so, but did feel he put together some good games towards the end of the season.

If the Sixers want a bouncy small-ball five without breaking the bank, bringing back Martin might be a good idea if he’s open to it. He was making a little under $2 million on his last contract, and likely won’t get much more than that this summer.

When asked straight up if he’d like to be back, Martin frankly said he doesn’t know, and that he has to take some time off to think about it. He may be looking for a bigger role, but Martin proved himself to be a solid 10th or 11th guy off the bench.

Mo Bamba

It is telling that no matter how much Reed struggled in the playoffs, Mo Bamba still wasn’t close to seeing playing time. It wasn’t hard to see why the former No. 6 overall pick is already bouncing from team to team on the veteran’s minimum.

The only skill Bamba was above average in this year was blocking shots, and even that was a struggle for him if he was dragged out in space. Even after starting 17 games this year for an injured Embiid, it doesn’t seem like the team has much interest in bringing Bamba back next season.

Jeff Dowtin Jr.

Similar to Council and Reed, Dowtin is technically under contract for next season. His $2.1 million salary is a club option for 2024-25, and there’s little reason for them to not pick this up.

He did not come up when Morey referenced the team’s young core or guys under contract for next year, but was still praised for being a bit more polished than Council.

“Jeff, to his credit, he’s already contributed to some pretty good teams in Toronto prior to being here so I think Jeff’s a little farther along.”

It helps that he shot the ball well here — he hit 47% of his threes in 12 games for the Sixers. He also took care of the ball, only averaging 0.4 turnovers in 12 minutes a game. That’s pretty much all a team will need out of their last point guard off the bench.

Ricky Council IV

Like Dowtin, Council’s contract that was converted from a two-way to a standard NBA deal and is not guaranteed for the 2024-25 season. Council signed a four-year deal though, whereas Dowtin is signed for the next two.

That, plus Morey’s exit interview comments certainly make it seem like he is part of their plans long-term. It still seems like the team would like to see Council develop more before becoming a rotation regular.

Morey said that the second year for undrafted guys is about taking stock in what you need to improve on, and then giving the coach a reason to play you. But Morey also acknowledged that injuries can change things, as well as those guys taking those spots and running with them.

Council made the most out of the few opportunities he had as a rookie, and that’s why he earned himself a standard NBA contract. He also felt that he learned a lot from his time not playing as well.

“Being on the bench is not all bad, especially as a rookie,” Council said at his exit interview, “you get to learn and watch a lot; a lot of things that work and a lot of things that don’t work. And I saw that this series.”

He still has a lot of developing to do, but the progress he’s made so far along with his willingness to learn seems to be encouraging signs for the team.

Council ended his exit interview by saying he’s excited to get to work.

“I proved a lot of people wrong,” he said, “there’s more to come of that, for sure.”

Robert Covington

What a bummer. Covington was unable to suit up for the rest of the season once the calendar flipped to 2024 due to a bone bruise. Knee issues have plagued him throughout the back half of his career. He hasn’t averaged more than 22 minutes per game since being traded to the Clippers in the 2021-22 season.

It’s a shame because his Sixers reunion did get off to a good start. He was hitting 35% of his threes while posting an unreal steal rate of 3.3%, which put him in the 97th percentile, according to Cleaning the Glass.

If the Sixers are able to get him on a one year prove-it type of deal, it certainly would not be bad depth to have in their wing rotation. His combination of shooting and length might have made him a better matchup for the Knicks series, but it’s hard to count on him going forward with all the health issues he’s faced recently.

(No, Covington is not a “young player,” but he’s on this list because of his long absence and a need to break up Stay or Go into two articles.)

The Future of the Philadelphia 76ers: A Closer Look at Key Players

As the Philadelphia 76ers face a pivotal offseason, the future of the team hangs in the balance. With several key players entering free agency, decisions must be made on who to retain and who to let go. Let’s take a closer look at some of the players at the center of these decisions.

Paul Reed

Paul Reed’s performance in the playoffs raised questions about his future with the team. Despite some struggles, Reed has shown potential and could be a valuable asset moving forward. The decision to keep or let go of Reed will be crucial for the Sixers’ front office.

KJ Martin

KJ Martin’s versatility and defensive skills make him a valuable asset off the bench. While he may be seeking a larger role, bringing back Martin on a reasonable contract could provide depth to the team’s frontcourt.

Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba’s limited playing time and performance in the playoffs raise doubts about his future with the team. Despite his shot-blocking abilities, Bamba’s overall impact has been underwhelming. The Sixers may opt to part ways with Bamba in search of a more consistent contributor.

Jeff Dowtin Jr.

Jeff Dowtin Jr.’s solid shooting and ball-handling skills make him a valuable backup point guard option. With a team-friendly contract, Dowtin could provide stability to the second unit and contribute positively to the team’s success.

Ricky Council IV

Ricky Council IV’s development and potential for growth make him an intriguing prospect for the Sixers. While he may need more time to refine his game, Council’s work ethic and willingness to learn bode well for his future with the team.

Robert Covington

Robert Covington’s injury woes have cast a shadow over his recent performances. Despite his shooting prowess and defensive abilities, Covington’s health concerns raise doubts about his long-term viability. The Sixers may need to weigh the risks and rewards of retaining Covington for another season.

As the Sixers navigate the offseason, tough decisions lie ahead. The choices made regarding these key players will shape the team’s future and determine their competitiveness in the seasons to come.