The Philadelphia 76ers are nearly done building out their roster for the upcoming season, with just one spot still open. They could leave it empty until January, but if they do decide to fill it, the conversation should not include D’Angelo Russell.
Russell is expected to be available soon after the Memphis Grizzlies reshaped their roster this summer, and the rumor mill has him on the chopping block. That might make him interesting to playoff teams looking for bench scoring, but Philadelphia is not one of them.
The reason is simple: the 76ers already have plenty of scoring guards.
The front office spent the offseason strengthening a backcourt that was thin last year. Tyrese Maxey and incoming sophomore VJ Edgecombe are already in place, and the team added All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons, rookie Labaron Philon Jr., plus two-way signings Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert. There is no shortage of shot creators in that group.
Russell fits the same basic mold, only even more heavily tilted toward scoring. Philadelphia does not need another player asking for touches in that part of the floor.
If the 76ers use that final roster spot on a guard, it should be someone who brings something different. A true playmaker would make sense, especially with playmaking still an issue for this team in the years since James Harden forced his way out.
With so many players who can get their own shot, a steady organizer off the bench would offer a useful change of pace. A defensive guard who can knock down open looks would also fit better.
The other obvious route is the frontcourt. Philadelphia could use more size outside of the center spot, and another backup big would help, especially with no clear answer yet for the second-unit center role behind Joel Embiid.
Russell’s reputation has long been tied to inefficient shooting, heavy shot volume, shaky playmaking, and defense that lags behind. Not every free-agent guard fits that profile, but the 76ers have no reason to chase another score-first option when they already have so many players built to do the same thing.
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