Sixers offseason to-do list: Find cheap contributors, Ben Simmons’ extension and more (2024)

A few times during his end-of-season press availability, perhaps just to drive the point home, Elton Brand mentioned that this offseason would be his first as Sixers general manager. He was part of the front office last year through the draft and free agency, but Brett Brown held the interim GM title.

As we know by now, things move quickly around here. And while the same personnel group will handle this summer’s business, Brand is now leading the front office.

“I look forward to being a GM for the first time in free agency to address certain needs — a backup center, certain depth, the pieces I feel need to be in place,” Brand said at one point when asked about the backup center spot. “Last year I wasn’t afforded that opportunity. I had a voice in it, and I didn’t speak up loud enough, I guess.”

Brand made a couple of in-season trades that will shape this offseason, which already looked crucial to putting the Sixers on a path for the next half-decade. Now, before we later dive into some of the key decisions the Sixers will have to make this summer, here’s an overview of the itinerary.

1. Jimmy, Tobias … and oh yeah, five other free agents

The Sixers, with Full Bird Rights on two of the better unrestricted free agents, will factor greatly into a significant offseason around the NBA.

It all starts with Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Philadelphia traded for them in-season, giving up a couple of current contributors for Butler and plenty of future ammo for Harris. Despite not having much time to jell, they were a miraculous shot and, had it none gone in, an overtime period away from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. The new starting lineup lived up to its lofty expectations.

In the cases of both Butler and Harris, the Sixers wield an extra fifth year for an overall contract worth up to $189.7 million. Making that type of commitment carries risk with both players. Butler was on his best behavior this season, but once his contract is inked, you wonder if there is blow-up potential like we saw during his exit from Minnesota. The back end of the agreement, seasons when Butler will be playing at ages 33 and 34, could be ugly for a player who has led the league in minutes per game over the last six seasons. (Although injuries, another concern, have knocked some of the mileage down.)

Harris didn’t provide the consistency you would hope for from a typical max player. His skill set, particularly on defense, doesn’t match that of a typical elite third (and sometimes fourth) offensive option.

Josh Harris is on record multiple times saying that the organization is willing to pay the luxury tax. To be clear, the risk runs both ways. Butler was consistently very good in the playoffs, and unless there’s an unexpected top-tier player with their eyes set on Philly (Kawhi Leonard hitting that shot and choosing to play here would be quite the story), it’s going to be difficult to do better. The same goes for Harris, especially if Butler signs.

Again, in both cases, the decision is a two-way street. If Butler and Harris decide they want to play somewhere else — and they will have offers — both can and will do so.

JJ Redick is a little bit “down the totem pole” in his estimation, and just like last year, his situation will be affected by bigger-money decisions.

Then there is the bench. Mike Scott became a dependable piece in addition to a Delaware Valley folk hero. Deep down, James Ennis just wants you to let him crash the offensive glass. After becoming a key cog these playoffs, he declined his $1.8 million player option, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported earlier today. The Sixers could have to use some of their mid-level exception to bring Ennis back.

Backup center is a position that should be easy enough to fill. Competency at that spot, however, is of vital importance for the Sixers in terms of managing Joel Embiid’s workload during the season and not falling apart as soon as he hits the bench in the playoffs. T.J. McConnell saw his role shrink this season, and especially if Butler returns, McConnell could look to find a more solidified rotation spot elsewhere.

If last offseason was about star hunting, this one appears to be more about retention and solidifying the roster.

2. Find cheap contributors

For years, the NBA Draft was the most important day of the season for the Sixers. While they aren’t swinging for star-level talents like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons anymore, the draft is now vitally important in building around those guys.

Assuming the Sixers’ core duo is about to be locked in for the next few seasons, the team is going to need low-cost contributors to round out the roster. The best place to do that is the draft.

The Sixers own five picks in this draft (which takes place on June 20): 24, 33, 34, 42 and 54.

A week ago, Brand was oddly specific when asked a question about the draft, saying he was looking for “maybe older players, for sure defensive-minded players, and players that place a premium on shooting, spacing and shooting.” That reminded me a lot of Mikal Bridges, but as we saw last year, this group is willing to pivot to another player with a totally different trajectory.

The Sixers hit on a late first-round pick last season with Landry Shamet. Now that he is gone, can they make it two years in a row?

3. Ben Simmons’ extension

It wasn’t long ago that Brand joked on “The Lowe Post” podcast, “If Ben (Simmons) keeps his trajectory, it’s going to be the big max. ‘Here you go, whatever you need, let’s discuss. Do you want two suites on the road or just one?’”

Even before all the craziness and two blockbuster trades, this figured to be the last season that the Sixers were major players in free agency because Simmons is soon due for a raise. He is eligible to sign an extension this offseason that will begin in the 2020-21 season.

The Sixers have until October to reach an agreement on an extension with Simmons. If that doesn’t happen, he will be a restricted free agent next offseason.

There are questions about Simmons’ tricky on-court fit due to his lack of a jump shot, but he has been a major part of the team winning 50-plus games in his first two seasons. At every chance he gets, Brown wants to remind you of Simmons’ age. Well, Simmons is only 22, and the Sixers are looking at a big financial commitment to him.

4. Replace coaches

Brett Brown said he anticipates having to fill two assistant coaching positions, after Monty Williams took the head coaching job in Phoenix and Billy Lange previously left for St. Joseph’s. Jim O’Brien filled in on a temporary basis.

“As I search with Elton for what are we going to do on the bench, who’s going to be behind the bench, there are skills, there are sort of ways people see the world, ‘Are you an offensive guy, are you a defensive guy’ type thing that will factor into who we hire,” he said.

Brown sets up his staff similar to an NFL coaching staff with how he divvies up their primary duties. If he sticks to this past season’s setup, Brown will have to fill the roles of defensive coordinator (Lange/O’Brien) and special teams/set plays (Williams). There are plenty of other things that go into the jobs as well, but that’s the primary way Brown doles out responsibilities.

Brown said he expects to fill the role within the next month. ESPN reported the Sixers had conversations with former Memphis Grizzlies head coach JB Bickerstaff for a role on Brown’s staff, but he ultimately took a spot on John Beilein’s new staff in Cleveland.

5. Player development

Zhaire Smith said he expects to play in Summer League, which starts July 5. This will be a big summer for the 19-year-old after he made the best of what was a scary health situation in his rookie year. Shake Milton’s progress should also be worth monitoring after he showed some flashes at the NBA level and put up big numbers in the G League.

Then there are the established players. Simmons’ shot (and whom he decides to work out with) is discussed every other day, and his summer just got busier as Simmons recently announced that he’ll be playing with the Australian national team. Joel Embiid said that he’ll have some extra time to focus on strength training and allow the tendinitis in his left knee to go away. When that happens, he’ll try to work on becoming a more well-rounded offensive player. “I just can’t be a post player,” Embiid said at his exit interview. He’s right.

So, that’s quite a few moving parts and areas to address for the Sixers. This offseason doesn’t promise to be boring, but with this team, has that ever been the case?

(Top photo: Matt Rourke / AP)