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Over the past 12 months, the Philadelphia 76ers have increasingly put all their resources into contending for a championship. The Sixers added both Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris during the regular season, and many around the league predicted that Philadelphia would advance to the NBA Finals.
However, the Sixers were eliminated by Kawhi Leonard's Game 7 buzzer-beater, as Toronto stole a series that was Philadelphia's for the taking.
Both Butler and Harris will now hit free agency, and there are no assurances that either player will stay. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have also been linked with trades, and ahead of a busy summer, here are all the latest Philadelphia rumors you need to know.
Tobias Harris attracting interest from at least five teams
Tobias Harris joined just days ahead of the trade deadline, and his performances in a Philly jersey were slightly underwhelming. Yet, Keith Pompey of Philly.com is reporting that Harris is attracting plenty of interest from around the league:
According to several sources, the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that will all go after the forward in free agency. All five teams can offer maximum-salary contracts.
By trading for Harris, the Sixers acquired his Bird rights. That enables them to offer him a five-year, $188 million max contract. Even though the Sixers can offer an extra season and an extra $47 million, Harris has leverage because he’s in demand.
Philadelphia secured Harris' signature by sending Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Landy Shamet, and a number of future draft picks to the Clippers. In 27 appearances, Harris managed 18.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Jimmy Butler could head to the Brooklyn Nets
Just like Harris, Jimmy Butler will become a free agent this summer and the former Bulls man has repeatedly announced his desire to land a max deal. The Sixers are believed to be keen to sign the 29-year-old to a new long-term deal, although it remains to be seen if they will commit so much money to a player who will turn 30 in September.
This makes a Butler departure possible, and Brian Lewis of the NY Post believes the Brooklyn Nets are major contenders for his signature.
The feeling around the NBA is the Nets will have a very real chance to pry four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler away from Philadelphia.
Finally having the cash and cachet to get looks from the top free agents this July, Nets general manager Sean Marks is expected to be in the hunt for both Durant and Kyrie Irving. But Butler isn’t just a fall-back plan; he’s a two-way star league sources said the Nets have a real shot at landing.
After joining from the Timberwolves in November, Butler averaged 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
The addition of a backup center remains a priority
During the 2019 postseason, the Sixers could count Greg Monroe, Boban Marjanovic, Amir Johnson and Jonah Bolden among their backup centers. However, while speaking at Philadelphia's practice facility last week, general manager Elton Brand.stated his desire to bring in a new backup to Joel Embiid:
Definitely [backup center is] one of the priorities outside of free agency with the top guys. I look forward to being the GM for the first time entering free agency to address certain needs of a backup center, certain depth, certain pieces that I feel needs to be in place.
We’re a destination team right now, we’re a destination city. Players want to be here. So if I say, ‘Hey, there’s going to be X amount of minutes for you, we’re going to have a deep playoff run,’ I’m confident we can get some talent in that backup center.
Despite enjoying the best season of his career, Embiid struggled with injury issues throughout the playoffs, and the Sixers suffered without his huge presence on the court.
