2025 Offseason Free Agency Thread

[stormi]

If the long-term plan is to target a PF via Grimes as a trade chip, it will be easier to sign him now and trade him later. If he gets around $16m in year one, then we could target a guy like Jabari Smith by trading Grimes + Drummond in a few months.

Grimes is from Houston and would be a great fit there as a big guard next to FVV. For us, Smith is about as good as it could get in terms of targeting a very young guy who still has major upside, on a decent contract.

They wouldn't even consider Jabari (or Reed or Tari) in a deal for Durant. I like the idea of Grimes as a 3&D G/W in Houston especially when they run Point Amen lineups but there's just no shot Grimes has that sort of pull.

Houston is an odd fit for a S&T, their guys are either paid already or still on their rookie scale contracts.

[GoSixersBro]

With Gordon back here's the current roster assuming Grimes is signed:

PG Maxey | McCain | OPEN
SG Grimes | Edge | Gordon
SF Oubre | Edwards | Council
PF George | Watford | Broome
CE Embiid | Bona | Drummond

That is a full 14-man roster since we typically don't have 15 until late in the season.

Still hoping we can dump Drummond but not optimistic. Although if we do it's probably just to open a spot for Lowry lol.

Solid roster.

4 seed ceiling with decent health through the 82 and even that feels generous.

[easye4391]

I really feel people are underestimating the roster. We have 6 players that any given night will go for 20 pts or have the capability to do so. You have depth except for the front court. We are more athletic then in years past. Even if Embiid and George aren’t fully healthy they are still quality starters.

This team has Championship aspirations and very well could come out of the East. Health plays a factor but that can be said for any team.

[Embiid-MVP]

I really feel people are underestimating the roster. We have 6 players that any given night will go for 20 pts or have the capability to do so. You have depth except for the front court. We are more athletic then in years past. Even if Embiid and George aren’t fully healthy they are still quality starters.

This team has Championship aspirations and very well could come out of the East. Health plays a factor but that can be said for any team.

I'm with you. Not many are but I still think we could make a run with this team. We deserve to see a healthy Embiid year from start to finish. Just give us 1 last good run. I'll be satisfied with whatever outcome that may bring

[Negrodamus]

I'm completely on board with a S&T of Grimes since I have no idea what his true value actually is after going nuts last year. If he could yield us a starter level PF, then I'd pull the trigger immediately.

On the other hand, Dallas gave up on Jalen Brunson right before he went berserk. Maybe that's what's happening here.

[Jailblazers7]

My hopes for the roster are that VJ and Edwards play themselves into a starting role by the end of the season. That’d be an extremely positive development outcome for both. Edwards will probably need to be a better rebounder to unseat Oubre in the starting lineup.

[GoSixersBro]

The July delusions are very real. The Sixers have never been a true championship contender from 2018-2025. You could maybe argue 2019 but still that situation was a hypothetical and there was no guarantee we'd beat Milwaukee.

Hope I'm wrong, but our current 3 star core is in shambles and we are throwing around title aspirations? Relax.

[Jailblazers7]

I wouldn’t say title aspirations because I think WC teams like OKC or Houston would demolish us. But with decent health, I think ECF aspirations are a real thing in this god forsaken conference.

[Iverson Armband]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4? Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

[the_process]

Every day that goes by without Grimes news increases the odds that a S&T is being negotiated somewhere.

The Sixers would strongly prefer Grimes to take his QO is my take on this.

[the_process]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4 Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

PG isn't gonna have much of a choice unless he's good with heading to like DET or something.

[Iverson Armband]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4 Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

PG isn't gonna have much of a choice unless he's good with heading to like DET or something.

Maxey/McCain
Grimes/VJ
Edwards/Oubre
George/Watford
Embiid/Bona

That should be the rotation. Hopefully VJ plays well enough to move Edwards back to the bench at some point.

[stormi]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4? Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

George and Siakam are not in the same size bracket, nor are they in the same bracket athletically at this stage.

I don't think George would have a problem 'playing the 4', the issue with that though is that with Siakam's length and weight gap he's much more suited to guarding Cs and being a persistent secondary rim presence.

Asking George to do that is defensive structure suicide.

[Iverson Armband]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4? Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

George and Siakam are not in the same size bracket, nor are they in the same bracket athletically at this stage.

I don't think George would have a problem 'playing the 4', the issue with that though is that with Siakam's length and weight gap he's much more suited to guarding Cs and being a persistent secondary rim presence.

Asking George to do that is defensive structure suicide.

I understand that to a degree, but he’s still the best they have on the roster to somewhat fill that role. I thought he moved pretty well defensively last year.

[mjkvol]

I'm completely on board with a S&T of Grimes since I have no idea what his true value actually is after going nuts last year. If he could yield us a starter level PF, then I'd pull the trigger immediately.

On the other hand, Dallas gave up on Jalen Brunson right before he went berserk. Maybe that's what's happening here.

He went berserk because the Knicks handed him the ball. That last year in Dallas he was the same player when they made that deep playoff run. They lost nothing in their non-Doncic minutes with Brunson running the team. And he was dying to resign with them at 25 mil!

[stormi]

One thing that bothers me tremendously about Paul George is his reluctance to play the 4. You mean to tell me the team is paying you 40M a year as basically a retirement gig and you can’t play 20 min a night at the 4? Siakum does it at basically the same size. It’s flat out ridiculous. Especially now, since it’s likely some of our best lineups would feature 3 guards with him at the 4 and Embiid at 5.

George and Siakam are not in the same size bracket, nor are they in the same bracket athletically at this stage.

I don't think George would have a problem 'playing the 4', the issue with that though is that with Siakam's length and weight gap he's much more suited to guarding Cs and being a persistent secondary rim presence.

Asking George to do that is defensive structure suicide.

I understand that to a degree, but he’s still the best they have on the roster to somewhat fill that role. I thought he moved pretty well defensively last year.

For sure there are going total Morey ball lineups with shooting en masse & George at the 4, but there are things that Joel Embiid just can't provide mobility-wise and he's going to need assistance from his frontcourt mate.

(warning, spam) Looking through previous champions--

2014 Spurs started Leonard alongside Duncan & Diaw.
2015 Warriors "" Barnes alongside Green & Bogut.
2016 Cavaliers "" Lebron alongside Love & Thompson. Lebron is the most similar profile to George (George is smaller).
17/18 Warriors "" Durant alongside Draymond & Javale/Zaza (George is smaller).
2019 Raptors "" Leonard alongside Siakam & Gasol.
2020 Lakers "" Lebron alongside Davis & Dwight/Javale.
2021 Bucks "" Middleton alongside Tucker & Giannis & Brolo (George is bigger).
2022 Warriors "" Wiggins alongside Draymond & Looney.
2023 Nuggets "" MPJ alongside Gordon & Jokic (George is smaller).

2024 Celtics started Tatum alongside KP. This is the only debatable one, although Tatum is allegedly 6'10, younger, thicker (pawse) and far more athletic. They also had unmatchable size 1-3 and could also 'play small' with Tatum at the 3 beside Horford/KP/Kornet when they needed.

2025 Thunder started Jalen Williams alongside Chet & iHart.

I'm not sure why there's even a desire to want to see George at the four full time, it's completely abstract from the formula that's won time & time again.

[mjkvol]

The July delusions are very real. The Sixers have never been a true championship contender from 2018-2025. You could maybe argue 2019 but still that situation was a hypothetical and there was no guarantee we'd beat Milwaukee.

Hope I'm wrong, but our current 3 star core is in shambles and we are throwing around title aspirations? Relax.

100% agree. My focus is on the moves Morey makes toward '26-'27 and beyond.

I would argue that the best shot we had was the full Harden year, where we were a legitimate contender. Hell, we had the mighty Celtics down 3-2 with game 6 at home.

[the_process]

George and Siakam are not in the same size bracket, nor are they in the same bracket athletically at this stage.

I don't think George would have a problem 'playing the 4', the issue with that though is that with Siakam's length and weight gap he's much more suited to guarding Cs and being a persistent secondary rim presence.

Asking George to do that is defensive structure suicide.

I understand that to a degree, but he’s still the best they have on the roster to somewhat fill that role. I thought he moved pretty well defensively last year.

For sure there are going total Morey ball lineups with shooting en masse & George at the 4, but there are things that Joel Embiid just can't provide mobility-wise and he's going to need assistance from his frontcourt mate.

(warning, spam) Looking through previous champions--

2014 Spurs started Leonard alongside Duncan & Diaw.
2015 Warriors "" Barnes alongside Green & Bogut.
2016 Cavaliers "" Lebron alongside Love & Thompson. Lebron is the most similar profile to George (George is smaller).
17/18 Warriors "" Durant alongside Draymond & Javale/Zaza (George is smaller).
2019 Raptors "" Leonard alongside Siakam & Gasol.
2020 Lakers "" Lebron alongside Davis & Dwight/Javale.
2021 Bucks "" Middleton alongside Tucker & Giannis & Brolo (George is bigger).
2022 Warriors "" Wiggins alongside Draymond & Looney.
2023 Nuggets "" MPJ alongside Gordon & Jokic (George is smaller).

2024 Celtics started Tatum alongside KP. This is the only debatable one, although Tatum is allegedly 6'10, younger, thicker (pawse) and far more athletic. They also had unmatchable size 1-3 and could also 'play small' with Tatum at the 3 beside Horford/KP/Kornet when they needed.

2025 Thunder started Jalen Williams alongside Chet & iHart.

I'm not sure why there's even a desire to want to see George at the four full time, it's completely abstract from the formula that's won time & time again.

Because the team isn't winning anything and the goal is just to tread water. This idea that Jo is back and healthy and MVP level is just fantasy.

[FlyingArrow]

I really feel people are underestimating the roster. We have 6 players that any given night will go for 20 pts or have the capability to do so. You have depth except for the front court. We are more athletic then in years past. Even if Embiid and George aren’t fully healthy they are still quality starters.

This team has Championship aspirations and very well could come out of the East. Health plays a factor but that can be said for any team.

I'm with you. Not many are but I still think we could make a run with this team. We deserve to see a healthy Embiid year from start to finish. Just give us 1 last good run. I'll be satisfied with whatever outcome that may bring

I'd settle for mid-to-finish. Seriously - just let him recover until mid-January. He starts slow every time he comes back, but let him hit his stride by March. By the playoffs, he's in shape and since he played so much less it has reduced the chances of injury.

[ProcessDoctor]

I know he's just a role player, but I'm still annoyed as hell about losing Yabu for the TMLE. Like Morey can't let that happen when this whole time he acted like he would be out of our price range.