The 76ers have plenty of names on the roster, but that doesn’t erase the one obvious question hanging over the group: can they shoot it well enough from deep? Philadelphia added more offensive talent this offseason, yet the three-point issue remains very much alive, which is why a low-cost target like Simone Fontecchio makes sense as a name to keep in the mix.
Fontecchio is sitting on the Heat bench after re-signing on a veteran’s minimum deal this offseason, and he brings a track record that should catch Philadelphia’s eye. Last season, he hit 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts. That kind of number won’t solve everything, but it’s the sort of reliable floor spacing the 76ers could use if the perimeter shooting gets shaky again.
On paper, Philadelphia does have more shooting than it did a year ago. The additions of Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, and Labaron Philon Jr. help, and Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are no strangers to scoring from outside. Even so, the roster still has some streaky shooters, which leaves room for a steadier option like Fontecchio.
There’s also more to his appeal than just the jumper. At 6'7", he gives teams size on the wing, and he’s a competent defender as well.
He isn’t the kind of athlete who jumps off the screen, but he plays with intelligence and uses his length well enough to cover ground on that end. For a relatively small 76ers team, that matters.
The contract situation only adds to the logic. Because Fontecchio is on the veteran’s minimum, matching his salary would be simple for Philadelphia. And with Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. now in Miami, the Heat may be willing to move on from him for something as small as a second-round pick.
Philadelphia has shot creation in abundance. What it still needs is more shooting to make all that talent work at full strength. Fontecchio isn’t a headline-grabber, but he could be a clean, inexpensive fix if the 76ers decide they want another perimeter weapon.
In Other News...
Sixers May Be Losing Another Young Piece To The Knicks
The Knicks have added forward Igor Milicic on an Exhibit 10 deal ahead of training camp, giving them another low-cost developmental flier to sort through before the season gets underway. For Sixers fans, the name is a familiar one: Milicic spent time with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphias G League affiliate, and has spent the past few years bouncing through a college career that stretched across three universities.
Exhibit 10 contracts often function as a bridge into a teams developmental pipeline, and that is the lane New York is opening for Milicic now. It also fits the broader reality for Philadelphia, where the Blue Coats have repeatedly served as a staging ground for young talent that other organizations are willing to take a look at when camp season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Rookie Labaron Philon Already Faces One Tough Rotation Hurdle
Labaron Philon Jr. gave the 76ers enough to like in Summer League, especially on the scoring end, but the early read on the rookie guard is hardly a simple one. Philadelphia has reason to be intrigued by his offensive feel, yet his thin frame stands out in a way that matters for a team trying to compete now, where every rotation spot has to carry weight on both ends.
The cautious part of the evaluation comes from defense, where the coaching staff reportedly wants more proof that Philon can handle the physical demands of the regular season. In a setup like this, upside alone is not usually enough, and a young guard has to show he can stay on the floor without becoming a target. For Philon, the path is clear enough: add strength, tighten the defensive end, and make it harder for the staff to leave him out of the nightly mix. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Final Roster Spot Could Fuel LeBrons Title Push
The 76ers have already reshaped their offseason in a major way, adding Jaylen Brown and bringing in LeBron James on a two-year deal, then further strengthening the rotation with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after his buyout from Memphis. It is the kind of aggressive roster building that signals a clear push to contend right away, with the front office still showing a willingness to keep tinkering even after the headline moves are done.
Maxi Kleber has emerged as a possible candidate for Philadelphias final roster spot, and the fit is easy to see for a team trying to balance star power with usable depth. The decision on that last opening could matter more than it usually does, since the Sixers are not merely filling out the back end of the roster but shaping the supporting cast around a group built to chase a championship run. [Read more 🡒]