The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into training camp with enough on the line already. That’s why this is not the moment to go shopping for a risky name like D'Angelo Russell.
Shams Charania reported that the Memphis Grizzlies decided to move on from Russell shortly before camp opens, clearing the way for them to add another player. For Russell, that means the search is on for a new team as he enters what would be his 12th season in the league. For the 76ers, it should mean one thing: stay out of that conversation.
Philadelphia can always use more depth, especially with a roster that has had its share of health issues. The backcourt, though, looks fairly settled, even if another playmaking presence would be useful. Russell is not the answer.
His résumé still carries some name value because he once made an All-Star team, but that was seven years ago. Since then, his stock has dropped hard, and the most recent season did little to change that.
He played in only 26 games for the Mavericks and put up 10.2 points and four assists per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field. From deep, he hit just 29.5 percent. He also logged a career-low 19 minutes per night, and even that may have been generous given how little he gave Dallas.
The bigger issue for Philadelphia is fit. Russell’s scoring has become inefficient, his playmaking comes with nearly two turnovers a game in just 19 minutes, and his defense on the perimeter is basically a non-factor. That’s a tough profile to carry on a team that already has plenty of scoring options.
What the 76ers need are low-usage players who can defend, knock down open shots, and keep the ball moving. Russell doesn’t really check those boxes.
Maybe another team will look at him and see a scoring swing worth taking. The 76ers should not be one of them, and teams with real title aspirations probably won’t be either.
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