The Philadelphia 76ers have already put together one of the NBA’s strongest offseasons, but there’s still a clear hole in the mix: 3-point shooting. That’s why Doug McDermott makes sense as a low-cost swing, at least on a training camp deal, if the Sixers want to patch that issue without spending real money.
Right now, Philadelphia’s cap situation leaves it with very little flexibility. At this point, the team can mostly shop in the minimum-salary aisle, which is exactly where McDermott fits. He wouldn’t cost much, and he still brings the one thing the Sixers need most: reliable perimeter shooting.
McDermott has made 41 percent of his career 3-pointers, and that kind of touch doesn’t come around often. He’s not a jack-of-all-trades addition, and nobody is mistaking him for a two-way difference-maker.
But as a specialist, he offers real value. If the idea is to have an emergency shooter ready to go, there’s not much downside in taking a look.
The fit is pretty obvious when you look at Philadelphia’s numbers from last season. The Sixers sat in the bottom third of the league in 3-point attempts, makes and accuracy. McDermott won’t fix all of that by himself, especially not as a third-string option, but he would give the roster one of the cleanest shooters available.
At 34, McDermott isn’t bringing much beyond that. His defense is a problem, and that’s part of the risk with putting him on the floor. Still, the Sixers need spacing, and that’s been his calling card for years.
He also does a lot of his damage without the ball, which matters on a team where players often end up waiting for their turn to create. McDermott cuts well, understands spacing and knows how to move around the arc to stay useful. That kind of off-ball skill is a real asset for a roster that could use more of it.
Philadelphia doesn’t have to make this move, but it does have a chance to keep sharpening the roster without spending heavily. If McDermott is sitting there with little competition, bringing him in would be a sensible way to add another credible threat from deep.
In Other News...
Sixers LeBron Chase Could Bring Another Former Top Pick Into Play
As the Sixers keep their eyes on the LeBron James market, another familiar name has surfaced in the background. According to Marc Stein, multiple NBA teams have interest in Mario Hezonja, who has spent the past few seasons with Real Madrid after last appearing in the league during the 2019-20 campaign.
What makes the report notable for Philadelphia is the overlap Stein described between the teams chasing Hezonja and the clubs in the LeBron mix. Hezonja would not move the needle the way James would, but he could fit as a low-cost wing option if the Sixers are trying to add depth while staying flexible, and his next step now looks tied to the same broader free-agent chessboard. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid May Finally Be Feeling Something Sixers Fans Haven't Seen
The offseason has given Joel Embiid a different kind of setup than the one he has carried for much of his Philadelphia tenure. With his extension set to kick in next season and the roster getting a major boost around him, the 76ers finally have the look of a team trying to lighten the load on their centerpiece instead of asking him to solve everything himself.
Jaylen Brown is now part of that equation, giving Embiid a new co-star and a level of support that could change how the season feels for him on a night-to-night basis. For a player who has spent years shouldering the burden in Philadelphia, the bigger question is whether this is finally the group that lets him play with less pressure, or whether there is still another move coming that changes the picture again. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sixers Forward Still Faces One Frustrating Problem
Trendon Watford showed enough versatility in his time with the 76ers to make you see why teams keep betting on him, but his fit never quite opened up the way Philadelphia might have hoped. The Sixers declined his team option for next season, sending him into free agency after a stint that hinted at useful depth but never fully turned into a larger role.
The problem is still the same one that has followed him: the shot from deep. Watfords lack of three-point production has kept coaches from leaning on him for more minutes, and it leaves him in a tricky spot as he looks for his next landing place. For now, he remains on the market, with his next opportunity still uncertain as the offseason moves along. [Read more 🡒]