The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of talent, but that doesn’t mean the roster is finished. If the right opportunity comes along during the season, there’s room to make a move - and the Kawhi Leonard situation with the LA Clippers could create one.
One area that could use help is behind Joel Embiid. Philadelphia doesn’t have much proven backup center depth, and Brook Lopez stands out as a possible answer if the Sixers reach the February deadline and decide they need more size at the five. If the timing and the market line up, he could be a strong target.
Lopez is 38, and he’s no longer the explosive big man he once was. He’s not the most athletic player on the floor, and he’s certainly not the All-Defensive force who helped the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA Championship. Even so, he still brings enough to matter, especially in a reserve role.
That’s where Philadelphia could make sense. Behind Embiid, Lopez wouldn’t be asked to carry a heavy load, and that kind of setup fits what he can still offer. He also played 75 games for the Clippers last year and logged 21.8 minutes per game, which shows he can still handle a real rotation role.
The fit gets more interesting because of the creators around him. LeBron James is an elite playmaker, Tyrese Maxey can create, and Lopez’s ability to space the floor from three-point range would open things up for those kinds of players.
The obstacle is money. Lopez is set to make $9.2 million this season, so a deal would require the 76ers to send out Anfernee Simons and a minimum-contract player.
That leaves Philadelphia with a straightforward decision by the deadline: is Simons’ shot creation more valuable, or is Lopez the better answer as Embiid’s backup?
The Clippers may also be in a position to listen. They need picks, and after losing five firsts in the Leonard scandal, adding firsts or seconds should be a priority. That could make LA more open to moving Lopez if the right offer comes along.
In Other News...
Former Knicks Bench Piece Just Landed Another Chance To Stick
The Sixers have added another name to the mix ahead of training camp, signing Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract as they continue filling out their preseason roster. It is the kind of low-risk, competition-heavy move teams make this time of year, especially when they want to see as many bodies as possible before sorting through the final roster picture.
Jones arrives with a little more NBA seasoning than the typical camp invite, having spent time with the Knicks and Thunder and carrying a back-to-back champion label despite limited playing time. Philadelphia has used several Exhibit 10 deals to create a crowded workout environment, and Jones now gets a fresh chance to make enough noise to keep himself in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade's Bet On The Sixers Already Looks Better Than Expected
Dean Wades decision to leave Cleveland for Philadelphia was always going to be about more than a new contract. He signed a four-year, $39 million deal to join a Sixers team that pitched him on a bigger vision, one that connected his move to a roster built to chase a title and to a reunion with Mike Gansey in the front office.
What makes the bet look better already is how quickly that vision has been reinforced around him. The Sixers talked to Wade about adding major star power after his signing, and the early read on his role is straightforward: a trusted bench piece on a deep, ambitious roster with championship expectations. For a player weighing opportunity, fit and familiarity, thats a pretty appealing landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Former Sixers Exec Is Suddenly Rising Fast Away From Daryl Morey
Peter Dinwiddie did not spend long settling in before the Atlanta Hawks moved him up the ladder. After just one season with the organization, the former 76ers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations has been promoted to the same role in Atlanta, another sign that his front-office profile has continued to climb after years working in high-level basketball operations. Dinwiddie had previously worked under Daryl Morey with both the Sixers and the Indiana Pacers, giving him a track record that clearly carried weight elsewhere in the league.
The Hawks did more than elevate Dinwiddie, too. The organization also promoted Maxwell Kupchak to Director of Cap Strategy and Player Personnel and brought in Tim Bontemps as a Front Office Strategic Advisor, a cluster of moves that suggests Atlanta is continuing to reshape the decision-making group around its basketball operation. For Philadelphia, it is another reminder that familiar names from the Morey era keep finding bigger opportunities elsewhere, even if the full impact of Dinwiddies latest move is still to be seen. [Read more 🡒]