After the Philadelphia 76ers made the questionable decision to approve the departure of Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the franchise’s roster is one injury crisis away from a catastrophic issue at the guard position. Fortunately, free agency can help provide a short-term solution. That solution comes in the form of former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball.
After being shipped from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade that also involved the Atlanta Hawks, Ball finds himself dipping his toe into free agency. His new employers ultimately waived the 29-year-old, giving the Sixers the perfect opportunity to solve a defensive problem they had imposed on themselves.
Lonzo Ball to the Sixers provides some much-needed depth
Whether Philadelphia wants to admit it or not, a spate of injuries would force the franchise’s hand to heavily include Kyle Lowry in the team’s rotation. Considering this is far from the championship-winning veteran head coach Nick Nurse once had at his disposal, the 76ers need to take a proactive step for this vision to become a reality.
There’s no denying that Lonzo Ball has struggled to make the requisite impact, not just in Cleveland but throughout his career, which would have cemented him as the top talent many experts believed him once was in his collegiate days. Ongoing injury problems and a lack of consistency with his performances have hampered his career thus far. Nevertheless, given the Sixers’ lack of ambition throughout the NBA trade window, this is the pool of players the front office needs to delve into.
Taking a risk of this magnitude may not be ideal for the 76ers; However, Ball has shown in his days with the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls that he can have a positive impact on games, which will be essential if Philadelphia makes one final postseason push.
Over his career, the former UCLA guard has averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. What these stats do highlight is his ability to contribute to every aspect of the game, and especially as a ball facilitator. Tyrese Maxey’s development as a playmaker has been phenomenal, but signing a player who can come off the bench and let the electric guard focus on shooting the ball would be helpful.
This acquisition may not be an attractive prospect for the 76ers fanbase. Even though the trade deadline has now passed, the reality is that Lonzo Ball is the most promising option left on the free agency list. Once again, the Sixers’ front office was too slow or uninterested in signing Cam Thomas to a short-term deal as he was picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks in recent days.
The options for the Philadelphia 76ers are few and far between. If general manager Daryl Morey doesn’t take action soon, the franchise’s hopes of a deep playoff run could be completely decimated.
#door #swung #wide #open #76ers #correct #Jared #McCains #massive #oversight