Which Sixers Role Players Stay and Which Ones Go?
The cases for and against bringing back four free agents.
Adam Aaronson, whose legal name is Sixers Adam (@SixersAdam on Twitter), covers the Sixers for The Rights To Ricky Sanchez. He believes cantaloupe is the best food in existence, and is brought to you by the Official Realtor of The Process, Adam Ksebe.
As the NBA Draft and free agency near, all eyes in the Sixers world are on James Harden, who continues to deliberate over whether to remain in Philadelphia or return to Houston.
While Harden remains the Sixers’ top priority, they must also focus on their other free agents. Four role players from last season’s team are not under contract for 2023-24: Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels, Paul Reed and Shake Milton.
In all likelihood, the Sixers should be able to bring back any of these four if they choose to do so. However, they must decide if each player’s price tag accurately represents their on-court value, and be prepared to counter an offer from another team that may offer more years, dollars or minutes.
It’s important to outline the cases for and against each of these free agents, as well as to identify potential suitors for them across the league.
The case for Georges Niang
Niang has been an exemplary role player for the Sixers -- he has knocked down just over 40 percent of his three-point tries on about five attempts per game in each of his two years as a Sixer -- and has become both a staple of the locker room’s cohesion and a fan favorite.
Niang’s shooting and gravity make life easier for everyone, especially Joel Embiid, who has long appreciated playing with a true stretch four, dating back to the Ersan Ilyasova days. He also made major strides as a two-point scorer this season, wisely attacking closeouts with patient drives and using his excellent touch to finish around the rim.
Niang’s defense leaves a lot to be desired, sure, but he was considerably better than expected in the playoffs this past year, holding up fine against both the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.
You know exactly what you’re going to get with Niang, and that in itself is quite valuable. A terrific spot-up shooter with an impact on the locker room and a connection with the fanbase is a player you’d like to keep around for a while.
The case against Georges Niang
A credible argument against Niang would begin with the claim that, despite his improved defensive showing in last season’s playoffs, he is too immobile to be relied on as a crucial part of the rotation.
Niang will always have his critics; he certainly isn’t a perfect player. When his three-point shot is not going down, his lack of versatility on offense can show itself as well.
One suitor for Georges Niang
If they continue to chase short-term improvements, the Portland Trail Blazers could make a lot of sense as a suitor for Niang. Their starting power forward, former Sixer Jerami Grant, is a free agent. And even if Grant returns to Portland, the Blazers only have one other player under contract with much meaningful experience at the four, wing Nassir Little.
Niang would give them much-needed frontcourt depth, and, of course, adds floor spacing as a knock-down shooter.
The case for Jalen McDaniels
McDaniels, the Sixers’ lone trade deadline acquisition, hits unrestricted free agency as a 25-year old wing with an impressive frame and useful athletic tools. His calling card is defense right now -- he isn’t a stopper, but he holds up against most wings and some guards.
Bringing McDaniels back on a long-term deal is a gamble on him turning his solid defense into something greater and his offense coming around -- particularly spot-up three-point shooting.
Another angle here: the Sixers are out many draft picks moving forward. Their best chances to develop young talent are going to come from guys like McDaniels who are already on the roster.
The case against Jalen McDaniels
Calling McDaniels’ offense a work-in-progress would perhaps be generous. He is a career 34.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, offers virtually zero ball-handling ability and was a poor at-rim finisher down the stretch of the season.
McDaniels is absolutely not a sure thing, and for a team with the Sixers’ championship ambitions, that is suboptimal. McDaniels fell out of the rotation in the playoffs last season, as the forward minutes went to Niang, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker and Danuel House Jr. -- the latter three all being under contract for next season.
While McDaniels should be characterized as a defensive specialist for the time being, he isn’t a superb defender. His athleticism and length make him solid on that end; however he is far from a shutdown one-on-one defender or brilliant off-ball defender.
One suitor for Jalen McDaniels
As they finally enter a rebuild, the Washington Wizards will soon prioritize young players in free agency, mostly ones who have theoretical upside tied to standout tools. McDaniels fits that bill.
The Wizards only have three true wings under contract for 2023-24 at the moment: Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert and Anthony Gill. Adding McDaniels to that group gives additional depth on the wing and provides Washington another chance to find a diamond in the rough.
The case for Paul Reed
BBall Paul finally asserted himself as Embiid’s primary backup this season as he continued putting together the pieces that coalesce into a viable rotation player. His per-minute and rate stats continue to look off the charts, his playoff minutes were far from disastrous -- at times they were even very good -- and his athletic profile suggests there remains room for improvement.
Reed, who turned 24 just last week, put together outstanding stretches of play last season, setting himself up for a multi-year contract with plenty of guaranteed dollars. Reed is a restricted free agent, meaning the Sixers have the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another team.
A 24-year old who has already made major strides and has supreme athletic abilities is a player a team should want to keep around for the long-term. Nabbing Reed with one of the final few picks of the 2020 NBA Draft was a shrewd move by the team, and so it would make sense to keep him around.
The case against Paul Reed
Reed’s potential is obvious and his highlights are noteworthy, but it’s impossible to ignore that he remains very prone to making mistakes, both physically and mentally. Nick Nurse, the team’s new head coach, is notorious for giving error-prone players very short leashes. It stands to reason that Nurse could grow frustrated with Reed if he fails to improve his decision-making and awareness.
One suitor for Paul Reed
The upstart Sacramento Kings had an inspiring return to relevance this year, becoming the third seed in the Western Conference despite some potential roster holes. Alex Len gave them decent minutes in the playoffs, but they do not have a solidified backup to Domantas Sabonis. Their only true big under contract for next year aside from Sabonis is our old friend Richaun Holmes, who is frequently the center of trade rumors.
Reed would give them immediate help as an upgrade from Holmes and Len while not deviating from their patient timeline. The Kings’ youth is an asset, not a flaw, and upgrading their bench while staying young is the best case scenario for them.
The case for Shake Milton
Milton fell out of the rotation at the end of last season despite multiple impressive stretches during the regular season, particularly his fantastic play when Harden and Tyrese Maxey were sidelined.
With Harden’s status very much uncertain, Milton could become a true necessity, rather than the luxury he has been since Harden arrived in Philadelphia. He could return to a secondary ball-handler role if Harden departs, a role which he is extremely familiar and comfortable with.
The simplest way to put Milton’s value in perspective is this: very tall and very long guards who can handle the ball and knock down shots from deep do not grow on trees! Milton’s mix of skills and physical tools make him more valuable than his raw stats would suggest.
The case against Shake Milton
If Harden is back, he and Maxey will command the vast majority of ball-handling responsibilities, with De’Anthony Melton firmly solidified as the team’s third guard. This is the exact situation which led to Milton’s eventual removal from the rotation last season. Additionally, the Sixers hope Jaden Springer can produce for them next season. Why pay market value for Milton if you have two ball-handlers you prefer, another guard who is more reliable and a young player on a rookie contract who just crushed G-League competition?
One suitor for Shake Milton
The Minnesota Timberwolves enter free agency after a deeply disappointing season with a few needs, one of them being another ball-handling guard. Scoring guard Jaylen Nowell is becoming a free agent, as is Nickeil Alexander-Walker (restricted). Starting point guard Mike Conley is entering his age-36 season. Jordan McLaughlin is the team’s only reserve guard or ball-handler under contract for next season. They would have a lot of use for Milton’s services.