The Philadelphia 76ers have had an incredible offseason that no one could have seen coming. Acquiring Jaylen Brown in a trade with the Boston Celtics is one thing, but following that up with a LeBron James signing? Incredible.
Mike Gansey has done a terrific job at rebuilding the roster that, when he took over, was in very rough shape. The team is now in contention for a championship, but they still have one key position to fill.
The 76ers can never rely on Joel Embiid to be healthy for a majority of the season. They will manage his workload in hopes of having him as ready as possible for a full playoff run. That likely means he will miss a minimum of 30 games again this season.
Backup center is a position that has always been important behind Embiid for this reason. Andre Drummond filled this role the last few seasons, but he’s now a New York Knick.
Adem Bona has shown some potential, especially on the defensive end. The bad thing about Bona is that he is still reckless on both ends of the court. He fouls a ton and has really poor hands.
Ariel Hukporti was signed this offseason from the Knicks, but he is very similar to Bona. He can rebound and defend, but he has been tagged a reckless player as well. He has never been given a true opportunity, another reason for concern about the Sixers’ backup duo.
So, a backup center should be the last priority as Gansey looks to fill out this reformed roster. Thankfully, there’s one player remaining who fits what they need almost perfectly.
Nick Richards is by far the best free agent center remaining on the market. He is still just 28, but he isn’t inexperienced like the other options currently on the 76ers roster.
Richards has played in over 300 games in his NBA career, starting 114 since being drafted in 2020. He has played for the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and most recently the Chicago Bulls.
Richards is a really good rebounder with athleticism that helps him on the offensive side. He is a player who can come in and actually start some games when needed. He fits really well with Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James, specifically in pick-and-roll situations.
The rest of the center options available in free agency are very poor. It’s a mix of veterans and players who are on their way out of the league. Here are some of the best options (other than Richards) still available.
Tony Bradley is a name 76ers fans haven’t heard in a long time, but he is one of the better options for this role. He played in 20 games for Philadelphia in the 2020-21 NBA season.
Drew Eubanks is one of the more underrated options remaining on the free agency market. His stats don’t jump off the page, but digging a little deeper shows what he can truly bring. His per-36 numbers have him consistently averaging a double-double, with his rebounding numbers really standing out.
Bismack Biyombo is still hanging onto a spot in the NBA, but his true value to a team is not really there anymore. Maybe he could come in and play 10 minutes a night for ~20 games next season, but Philadelphia probably wants a little more than that.
Kevin Love is where it gets really interesting, especially considering the LeBron signing. He can still rebound very well and obviously has the connection with the newest Sixer. Could Love be the added depth that they need at center?
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