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The Philadelphia 76ers endured another disappointing early exit in the NBA playoffs and will be looking to make a few changes. Despite clinching the No. 1 seed in the East, the Sixers fell in the second round of the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.
There is a lot to be considered this offseason as the Philadelphia 76ers will be looking to make another championship run. Their 49-23 record in the regular season showed some promise. However, there are some pieces that they still need to put together to guarantee success.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a potential Hall of Famer in Joel Embiid and need to build a team around him. The 2021 offseason will present the franchise with the opportunity to make some adjustments ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season.
Their loss to the Atlanta Hawks should serve as a lesson more than anything else. The 76ers blew an 18-point lead in Game 4 and a 26-point lead in Game 5. While the losses in themselves were disappointing, losing in that manner has perhaps made what they lack abundantly clear to the management.
That said, here are three bold predictions for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2021 NBA offseason.
#1 The Philadelphia 76ers will trade Ben Simmons
Perhaps, the Philadelphia 76ers' biggest issue heading into the 2021 NBA free agency is the uncertainty surrounding Ben Simmons' continuity with the franchise. The side have been patient with the former No. 1 overall pick to develop him into an effective scorer. However, no signs of improvement have been seen, as he was largely responsible for the 76ers' fall in the 2021 NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
Not many in the NBA are as talented as Simmons when it comes to playing defense. His build, reading of the game and quick hands make him one of the toughest players to get past in 1v1 situations. However, he is more of a liability on offense and barely contributes to the team's scoring.
Trading Simmons has developed into a necessity of sorts for the Philadelphia 76ers as Doc Rivers is clearly displeased with his performance. Fans have also demanded for him to be traded. If they are to pursue another elite guard, it would make no sense to leave Simmons on the team considering his salary. The best possible way to move him will be through a trade deal.
Simmons has been on the chopping block for a while, as reports suggest that he was included in a trade package meant to bring James Harden from the Houston Rockets during the 2020-21 season. Although that did not work out, his horrendous display during the playoffs has effectively furthered the case for him to be traded this offseason.
#2 Re-sign Danny Green
Danny Green joined the Philadelphia 76ers after his championship run with the LA Lakers in 2020. Green was well on his way to a record-breaking four championships with four different teams but fell short after the 76ers got knocked out.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a reliable catch-and-shoot player in Green and should be elated with his productivity. He shot a little over 40% from 3-point land in the regular season. Although his shooting percentage dropped in the playoffs, he was still a threat from deep.
Other than being a great shooter, Green is also an elite defender. Things might have been different in the conference semi-finals if Green hadn't been sidelined due to an injury early in the series.
Re-signing Green should be a priority for the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason. Although cap space might be an issue, owning his Bird Rights will work in their favor as they can go over the salary cap and offer him a contract extension.
Offering Green a two-year $20 million deal should be agreeable to both parties. There is no denying how much he improved the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2020-21 season. If they hope to go on a championship run in 2022, Green needs to stay.
#3 The Philadelphia 76ers will target an elite forward
The Philadelphia 76ers have utilized a system where Joel Embiid is the sole rim protector while Tobias Harris functions more or less like a wing. While that has worked as Embiid has enough space to post up and dominate in the paint, the big man might need some help grabbing boards next season.
Depth on the frontcourt is another area of concern as the bench does not feature top-notch talent. Although Dwight Howard has become a fan favorite in Philly, he is not as dominating as he was in his younger days. He is still a great defender, but has struggled to get on the score sheet, and it is also unclear if the Sixers will pursue him in free agency.
Finishing the 2020-21 season as the third best team in the NBA meant that the Philadelphia 76ers will not have the opportunity to pick one of the top prospects in the 2021 NBA draft. Their 28th first-round pick will not allow them the chance to select a top prospect in the draft.
To that end, the Philadelphia 76ers will have better luck poaching free agents or exploring trade options. The goal is to bring in a forward that can keep the offense flowing while Embiid and Harris take a breather.
Guess the Lakers players!
