With training camp around the corner, the 76ers are still in the “too early to panic, too ambitious to sit still” phase. Philadelphia does not need to force a splashy move right now, but if a useful veteran pops onto the market, the front office has every reason to keep a close eye on it. One name worth watching is Marcus Smart, who could end up squeezed out in Houston.
Smart put together a productive season with the Lakers, spending most of the year in the starting five before elevating his game in the playoffs. He played a major role in helping his team win a playoff series even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Then, after that run, he wound up joining the very club the Lakers had beaten, signing a two-year deal with the Rockets.
Houston got Smart on a bargain contract, but the fit is starting to look crowded. Fred VanVleet is back after missing a year with injury, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard are both expected to play heavy minutes, and the Rockets also brought in Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason. That makes it fair to wonder whether Smart is the guard who gets pushed down the pecking order.
For Philadelphia, that kind of situation should be interesting. The 76ers can still use more perimeter defense, and Smart brings exactly that.
He is not at the absolute peak of his defensive powers anymore, but he is still a tough one-on-one stopper who can bother top scorers and switch across multiple positions. A size mismatch does not scare him.
If his role in Houston starts to shrink, Philly should be ready to pounce once he becomes trade-eligible. Smart is set to make just $6 million next season, which is well within range for the 76ers to absorb. And if the Rockets really do end up with too many guards, they probably will not be asking for much in return.
There is another reason Smart makes sense for Philadelphia: familiarity. He already knows what it is like to play with both Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, two of the 76ers’ headline additions this summer. Add in his playoff mileage, and he looks like the kind of steady, battle-tested piece that can help a team with championship hopes.
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Sixers Still Have A Familiar Center Option Worth Watching
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For Philadelphia, that keeps a familiar name in view. Bradley has spent time with multiple NBA teams and brings eight years of experience, and the Sixers are monitoring his situation with an open roster spot of their own. If the market stays quiet, he could remain a late-season option worth revisiting, especially for a team that knows what it is getting in a depth center. [Read more 🡒]
LeBrons 76ers Arrival Could Change How Teams Game The Cap
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NBA insider Brett Siegel has floated the idea that side deals like that could eventually affect how teams and players think about contract structure and cap planning. It is only a suggestion for now, but it raises a question front offices will not ignore if Philadelphias move proves to be a template: how much can off-court money shape the way cap space is used, and where the league might decide to draw the line. [Read more 🡒]