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As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the offseason, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey needs to make his move. The Sixers made moves within the 2024-25 season designed to put them in the best position to retain some key players who they feel will help them in the future.
Per Spotrac, the Sixers will have 11 free agents entering the offseason. Not all of them will be back in a Sixers uniform and now is the time to predict what the team will do in terms of each player. Philadelphia will do its best to retain Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele, but when considering the restrictions of the CBA, it will be tough for the Sixers to accomplish that goal.
It's time to predict who stays and who goes in free agency:
Oubre has a player option for 2025-26 for roughly $8.1 million which is a solid price for somebody with his production and versatility. When considering that type of money and how important he is to this group, he is almost certainly coming back. The Sixers themselves even expect him to return so this one will be relatively easy to predict.
Prediction: Stays
Another one with a player option, worth $5 million, Drummond is also expected to return. The 2-time All-Star had a down year as he was slowed by a left toe sprain, but the big man is expected to give the Sixers some help on the glass if he can have a healthy season and get consistent minutes.
Prediction: Stays
Like Oubre and Drummond, the Sixers also expect Gordon to return on his $3.4 million player option. Another player slowed by injuries as he had to undergo surgery on his right wrist, Gordon will look to give the Sixers the elite 3-point shooting he showed in a stretch before his wrist surgery. When he is healthy, Gordon can give the Sixers a lot of production.
Prediction: Stays
Here's where things get really tricky. With the expectation being that Oubre, Drummond, and Gordon will all opt in to their player options plus the salary needed to pay the No. 3 pick in the draft, it makes life tough to make the big money commitment to Grimes who was fantastic after being acquired at the deadline. The Sixers will be pushing up against the tax and when also bringing Yabusele into play, the chances of bringing back Grimes are slim.
With that being said, Morey and the Sixers like him and they know what he can bring to the table. One has to believe a salary dump move will be coming shortly before the June 30 free agency period in order to create the cap space necessary to bring Grimes back. It also helps that he's a restricted free agent which gives the Sixers the option to match any deal he signs.
Prediction: Stays
The Sixers currently have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million) and the bi-annual exception ($5.1 million) to use. One has to believe that Yabusele will get a big raise from the $2.1 million he played on in the 2024-25 season after he put up 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 38% from deep and playing multiple positions and roles. If the Sixers give him a big raise, then one has to wonder how much of the exception they will have left. It also doesn't help their case that he's an unrestricted free agent meaning he can go whenever he wants without a fight from the Sixers.
Again, Morey and the Sixers like him a lot. As with Grimes, they are the priority for Philadelphia to bring back in free agency. Morey and Co. will have to do some cap acrobatics, but one has to believe Yabusele will be a Sixers when the 2025-26 season opens up.
Prediction: Stays
Lowry has stated that he wants to return to Philadelphia. However, the future Hall of Famer is 39 years old and the Sixers want to get younger. One has to believe that he will not return as he heads into the next, and possibly final, phase of his career. If by chance he does return, it will be in a role similar to the one he played this year when he was more of the mentor for the youngsters.
Prediction: Goes
There is virtually zero chance the Sixers don't exercise their $2.5 million team option on Edwards. He proved himself valuable as an undrafted rookie in 2024-25 and did so many positive things for this group on both ends of the floor. As free agency gets closer, the Sixers will certainly look to bring him back. Even if it does get declined, it would most likely be to re-negotiate to keep him around on a cheaper deal for cap purposes.
Prediction: Stays
Walker might be a victim of the Sixers landing the No. 3 pick in the draft. While he has expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia, the Reading, PA native may be the odd man out when considering the Sixers will be bringing in one of Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe (or another option) plus the possibility of bringing back Grimes and the Sixers getting healthier, he is most likely out.
Prediction: Goes
Butler had some good moments after being acquired at the deadline. He is a cerebral player who can run the offense efficiently and showed that he can knock down an open 3 when the defense presents an opportunity. His team option is for $1.2 million and to have him as a depth piece would not hurt this group. He is somebody coach Nick Nurse can rely on.
Prediction: Stays
A Nurse favorite, this might be the end of the Dowtin era in Philadelphia. He can no longer sign any two-way deals due to him now finishing his fourth season in the league so he will likely have to find an opportunity elsewhere.
Prediction: Goes
Signed to a two-way deal due to all of the injuries the Sixers had to battle through, Hood-Schifino gave the Sixers some solid performances. He showed he can shoot the ball a bit when left open and he can run the offense a bit as a ball-handler. With that being said, the likelihood of him returning is slim.
Prediction: Goes
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Stay or go: Predicting what Sixers will do with their 2025 free agents
Continue reading...
Per Spotrac, the Sixers will have 11 free agents entering the offseason. Not all of them will be back in a Sixers uniform and now is the time to predict what the team will do in terms of each player. Philadelphia will do its best to retain Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele, but when considering the restrictions of the CBA, it will be tough for the Sixers to accomplish that goal.
It's time to predict who stays and who goes in free agency:
Kelly Oubre Jr.: Player option
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Oubre has a player option for 2025-26 for roughly $8.1 million which is a solid price for somebody with his production and versatility. When considering that type of money and how important he is to this group, he is almost certainly coming back. The Sixers themselves even expect him to return so this one will be relatively easy to predict.
Prediction: Stays
Andre Drummond: Player option
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Another one with a player option, worth $5 million, Drummond is also expected to return. The 2-time All-Star had a down year as he was slowed by a left toe sprain, but the big man is expected to give the Sixers some help on the glass if he can have a healthy season and get consistent minutes.
Prediction: Stays
Eric Gordon: Player option
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Like Oubre and Drummond, the Sixers also expect Gordon to return on his $3.4 million player option. Another player slowed by injuries as he had to undergo surgery on his right wrist, Gordon will look to give the Sixers the elite 3-point shooting he showed in a stretch before his wrist surgery. When he is healthy, Gordon can give the Sixers a lot of production.
Prediction: Stays
Quentin Grimes: Restricted
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Here's where things get really tricky. With the expectation being that Oubre, Drummond, and Gordon will all opt in to their player options plus the salary needed to pay the No. 3 pick in the draft, it makes life tough to make the big money commitment to Grimes who was fantastic after being acquired at the deadline. The Sixers will be pushing up against the tax and when also bringing Yabusele into play, the chances of bringing back Grimes are slim.
With that being said, Morey and the Sixers like him and they know what he can bring to the table. One has to believe a salary dump move will be coming shortly before the June 30 free agency period in order to create the cap space necessary to bring Grimes back. It also helps that he's a restricted free agent which gives the Sixers the option to match any deal he signs.
Prediction: Stays
Guerschon Yabusele: Unrestricted
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The Sixers currently have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million) and the bi-annual exception ($5.1 million) to use. One has to believe that Yabusele will get a big raise from the $2.1 million he played on in the 2024-25 season after he put up 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 38% from deep and playing multiple positions and roles. If the Sixers give him a big raise, then one has to wonder how much of the exception they will have left. It also doesn't help their case that he's an unrestricted free agent meaning he can go whenever he wants without a fight from the Sixers.
Again, Morey and the Sixers like him a lot. As with Grimes, they are the priority for Philadelphia to bring back in free agency. Morey and Co. will have to do some cap acrobatics, but one has to believe Yabusele will be a Sixers when the 2025-26 season opens up.
Prediction: Stays
Kyle Lowry: Unrestricted
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Lowry has stated that he wants to return to Philadelphia. However, the future Hall of Famer is 39 years old and the Sixers want to get younger. One has to believe that he will not return as he heads into the next, and possibly final, phase of his career. If by chance he does return, it will be in a role similar to the one he played this year when he was more of the mentor for the youngsters.
Prediction: Goes
Justin Edwards: Team option
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There is virtually zero chance the Sixers don't exercise their $2.5 million team option on Edwards. He proved himself valuable as an undrafted rookie in 2024-25 and did so many positive things for this group on both ends of the floor. As free agency gets closer, the Sixers will certainly look to bring him back. Even if it does get declined, it would most likely be to re-negotiate to keep him around on a cheaper deal for cap purposes.
Prediction: Stays
Lonnie Walker IV: Team option
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Walker might be a victim of the Sixers landing the No. 3 pick in the draft. While he has expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia, the Reading, PA native may be the odd man out when considering the Sixers will be bringing in one of Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe (or another option) plus the possibility of bringing back Grimes and the Sixers getting healthier, he is most likely out.
Prediction: Goes
Jared Butler: Team option
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Butler had some good moments after being acquired at the deadline. He is a cerebral player who can run the offense efficiently and showed that he can knock down an open 3 when the defense presents an opportunity. His team option is for $1.2 million and to have him as a depth piece would not hurt this group. He is somebody coach Nick Nurse can rely on.
Prediction: Stays
Jeff Dowtin Jr.: Restricted
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A Nurse favorite, this might be the end of the Dowtin era in Philadelphia. He can no longer sign any two-way deals due to him now finishing his fourth season in the league so he will likely have to find an opportunity elsewhere.
Prediction: Goes
Jalen Hood-Schifino: Unrestricted
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Signed to a two-way deal due to all of the injuries the Sixers had to battle through, Hood-Schifino gave the Sixers some solid performances. He showed he can shoot the ball a bit when left open and he can run the offense a bit as a ball-handler. With that being said, the likelihood of him returning is slim.
Prediction: Goes
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Stay or go: Predicting what Sixers will do with their 2025 free agents
Continue reading...
