Potential MLE Options

[ZarcMumoff]

Depending upon what happens with Harden, it remains to be seen whether Philadelphia will have the full MLE or the tax MLE, but who are some potential options Philly could go after? This is the list I have.

GUARDS
Gary Harris
Delon Wright
Bruce Brown
Malik Monk
Victor Oladipo
Dennis Schroder
Gary Payton II
Pat Connaughton (PO - $5.7M)
Kendrick Nunn (PO - $5.2M)

WINGS
Cody Martin
Caleb Martin

FORWARDS
Otto Porter Jr.
Kyle Anderson
TJ Warren
Nicolas Batum (PO - $3.3M)
PJ Tucker (PO - $7.3M)

BIGS
Chris Boucher
Bobby Portis (PO - $4.5M)

Ideally, how is Philly spending the MLE, whether it's the full MLE ($10M) or just the tax MLE (about $6.5M)?

[Jailblazers7]

Would love to have Caleb Martin & GP2 on this team.

Getting one of the Martin twins would be my top priority. Otherwise I’d target Boucher if we don’t believe in Bassey next year. I really like Portis but think he’ll get more than the MLE.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I'm not fully sure how the MLE works. I know it's a way for teams to sign players without breaking the bank to do so. My guess is (if they can) they will break it up to get two different players. You can probably spend the whole thing on Kyle Anderson. Anderson would be a great addition to this team. He'd give guys like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum a hard time defending them. Giannis too. I really like Anderson the most on that list. Thing is, if we blow the whole MLE on him we have no other way of upgrading the remaining needs unless it's through a trade. I also could get behind spending it on either Chris Boucher or Bobby Portis. Preferably Portis if we could because he would be a great fit in the frontcourt with Embiid. I do think signing either of them would probably mean that we don't fully believe in Paul Reed. If Reed is going to get any consistent time he can't have players like Boucher or Portis in his way. With that being said, if we ignore that type of upgrade and put our faith in Reed and he doesn't improve, then we're in a world of trouble.

We do desperately need a consistent scorer off the bench. I keep waiting for Shake to be that guy, but it's not happening. I don't really like Gary Harris anymore, I do like Malik Monk but he'll be a hot seller in free agency and some team will outbid us, but Monk fits perfectly in my opinion. Hell no to Dennish Schroder, Gary Payton would be cool, but he's a defensive player. Doesn't provide a lot of scoring. Pat Connaughton I have no interest in personally. I do like Kendrick Nunn on that list. Again, if we're going after a guard in free agency, I think he needs to be relatively young. Monk and Nunn are two names off that list that I really like. It'll take the whole MLE to get Monk at this point, and you'd have to offer more than Nunn's player option to get him to leave the Lakers. Otto Porter jr should be attainable for the vet min, Nicolas Batum has reinvented himself as well. He's not the talent he once was, but the guy is a great defender and can knock down threes. He'd be great here. I can see both him and Porter taking vet min deals to chase rings. Since we're a contending team, I consider both of them options for us. There are names out there though. I'm sure Morey is going to do his thing. I think the Niang signing was a good one last year. Drummond too before we traded him. Morey will find us a gem or two.

[Iverson Armband]

That’s actually a better list for our needs than I thought there would be heading in to the offseason.

A couple names really stick out: Boucher, Oladipo, OPJ, Batum and the Martin twins. If we could snag 2 of those 5 (counting the Martin twins as 1) and trade Tobias for something resembling useful, that would be an excellent offseason.

*I don’t see Bobby Portis or Malik Monk as realistic options, but they would be my top 2 choices.

[Kobblehead]

Malik Monk is the only guy I want, tbh. I think he fits perfect.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Malik Monk is the only guy I want, tbh. I think he fits perfect.

Yep, an ascending guard who can play next to either one of Harden or Maxey. He'll be a steal for someone.

[mjkvol]

Portis, Monk, Oladipo, Porter, and Boucher would all be upgrades and fill needs.

[ProcessDoctor]

Pretty good list that allows us some flexibility. Obviously who we target will depend on what trade(s) we make. Interested to see what Morey does with Tobias and whether he pursues a 3rd star vs building depth.

[Mik317]

don't think most of that list comes here for the mle.

Portis/Porter/Tucker/Brown/Anderson/Martin(Heat) all probably stay where they are at.

I think Monk gets a bag from someone...if not the Lakers. Depending on if Oladipo keeps it up, I could see someone paying him more in hopes he truly returns to form.

Boucher is interesting as I think he only played well against us lol.

Gary Harris has been a future former Sixer his whole career tho. Feels like a good Shake/Danny replacement. I think Batum is washed

I'd go for some younger legs in general tho and hope they have a career resurrection of sorts. Stanley Johnson...Josh Jackson....former busts who might "figure it out" types

[FireMorey]

Gary Harris feels like a Morey player.

[Foshan]

I like Stanley Johnson as a vet min signing… he doesn’t get more than that right?

I’d also look to sign TJ Warren. IMO he is a high risk high reward guy. He could be out Olidepo, just rounding into full form for the playoffs.

[the_process]

I would like Delon Wright here. Could then use Maxey as the super 6th man like Herro for MIA. (30+ mins every night)

[Negrodamus]

Kyle Anderson is the real gem of this FA for us. He has been relegated to bench minutes despite being a very good two way player. If we can get him at a discount, it’s be an absolute steal. I think he’d play exceptionally well with Maxey, Harden, and Embiid. Would be contingent on if Harris is returning.

[76ciology]

Boucher
- lob threat for Harden if Embiid is not playing
- floor spacer and rim protector if Embiid is playing
- allows you to make your Reed, one of your most valuable assets, expendable

Then trade Reed for LuDort or some 3&D wing

[ZarcMumoff]

Kyle Anderson is the real gem of this FA for us. He has been relegated to bench minutes despite being a very good two way player. If we can get him at a discount, it’s be an absolute steal. I think he’d play exceptionally well with Maxey, Harden, and Embiid. Would be contingent on if Harris is returning.

Worried about his spacing?

Tend to agree though. Would also open up potential Tobias trades too if the 4 spot is solidified with a guy like Kyle Anderson.

[Jailblazers7]

I love Kyle Anderson but hate the idea of a guy nicknamed SlowMo being added to this team.

[Negrodamus]

Kyle Anderson is the real gem of this FA for us. He has been relegated to bench minutes despite being a very good two way player. If we can get him at a discount, it’s be an absolute steal. I think he’d play exceptionally well with Maxey, Harden, and Embiid. Would be contingent on if Harris is returning.

Worried about his spacing?

Tend to agree though. Would also open up potential Tobias trades too if the 4 spot is solidified with a guy like Kyle Anderson.

Not really. I know we are all a bit on edge over PFs and their ability to shoot, but Kyle has been a willing shooter and that's all we really need from him. His value is obviously defensive, but he also keeps the ball moving with his excellent vision. He's a self-aware Ben Simmons which is excellent to pair with Harden, Maxey, (insert shooter here), and Embiid. If Kyle is good enough as a wing defender, I'd try to sign Chris Boucher as PF to round out the starting lineup. Adds length and size to cover for Maxey's lack of size and Harden's indifference on defense.

[youngcrev]

Boucher
- lob threat for Harden if Embiid is not playing
- floor spacer and rim protector if Embiid is playing
- allows you to make your Reed, one of your most valuable assets, expendable

Then trade Reed for LuDort or some 3&D wing

Paul Reed is a valuable trade asset?

[youngcrev]

Step 1: make a list of your top 10 MLE targets
Step 2: completely remove those guys from your thought process because they'll either get more money or find a better landing spot
Step 3: scour the free agent market for guys that you're not sure if you'd have interest in, but could potentially fill a 15-20 minute role

[Negrodamus]

Step 1: make a list of your top 10 MLE targets
Step 2: completely remove those guys from your thought process because they'll either get more money or find a better landing spot
Step 3: scour the free agent market for guys that you're not sure if you'd have interest in, but could potentially fill a 15-20 minute role

In theory I'd agree, but the Lakers landed Malik Monk last year for nothing. Players around the league respect Embiid and Harden and might see that as a great resume builder to make a run for the championship with 2 elite players. Especially if we're moving on from Tobias, that 3/4 position looks mighty alluring.