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NBA teams may begin talking to free agents on Thursday, with the signing period beginning on July 14. The 76ers are over the salary cap, but team president and general manager Billy King said the team will use its $5 million salary cap exception to sign an inside player, and O'Brien already has in mind the man he wants.
He wouldn't say whether he has coached the player in the past, but a free agent who would probably sign for the exception and would seem to make a lot of sense is Boston center Mark Blount, who played under O'Brien when he coached the Celtics.
As Boston's starting center, Blount, 28, shot 56.6 percent from the field last season, second in the NBA. The 7-foot, 250-pounder averaged 10.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
If not him, the 76ers need someone a lot like him.
"We definitely need some size," King said. "Right now, we need to focus on a big guy."
That's because the only big players likely to return as 76ers are 6-11 Samuel Dalembert and 6-10 Marc Jackson. Derrick Coleman has a year remaining on his contract but is a logical candidate to either retire or have his contract bought out. Amal McCaskill and Zendon Hamilton, big guys brought in last year during the rash of injuries, are free agents who are unlikely to return if the 76ers are successful in finding anyone better.
The rest of the roster is made of up natural guards and small forwards. And one of them could be traded in an effort to thin the ranks. For instance, third-year man John Salmons shares qualities with first-round draft pick Andre Iguodala.
"I can't find time for all those guys," O'Brien said of the glut of similar players. "The guys who earn the minutes will get the minutes. I'm not going to distribute the minutes equally, nor will I try to keep people happy."
King didn't rule out a trade, but is concentrating first on free agency. If he does make a deal, it won't make over the 76ers.
"I don't think the roster will look vastly different," King said. "I think there's a nucleus that we're looking to keep."
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Whoever we're adding to the team with the MLE most likely will be a big, it sounds like the target is Mark Blount like I brought up on this board a while ago. I have the feeling with the approach we're taking that if we land Blount, Dalembert will move to the bench. It's not a thing I'm in favor of, but it seems like that's what is going to happen.
Currently on the free agent market the following bigs will be available, who are in the Sixers price range, and could help the team:
Zeljko Rebracca (Hawks)
Mark Blount (Celtics)
Chris Mihm (Celtics) - Restricted
Chris Anderson (Nuggets)
Michael Doleac (Nuggets)
Brian Cardinal (Warriors)
Adonal Foyle (Warriors)
Brian Skinner (Bucks)
Robert Traylor (Hornets)
Vin Baker (Knicks)
Steven Hunter (Magic)
Antonio McDyess (Suns)
Etan Thomas (Wizards) - Restricted
This isn't the cream of the crop we're picking from, but there are a few servicable guys on this list. Based on the system that O'Brien had in Boston, I'm thinking that he's looking for a big man able to hit the outside shot, and rebound. On this list, almost all of the players listed are capable outside of Anderson, Foyle, Skinner, Traylor, and Hunter. The above list also includes a few risky players, that make you question the following:
Is Rebracca able to consistently contribute to a team?
Will Mark Blount tank once he gets another contract?
Will Chris Mihm get any better?
Does Anderson's game differ enough from Dalembert's for him to be valuable to this team?
Cardinal is a hardworking player, but is he someone you can depend on for consistent minutes or is he a 10th man?
Can Adonal Foyle stay healthy?
Will Brian Skinner play as aggressively during the beginning of the season as the end?
Is Robert Traylor worth even thinking about bringing back?
Will Vin Baker stay off the bottle long enough to be an effect player?
Will Steven Hunter amount to anything if given a contract?
Any chance that Antonio McDyess doesn't get set back with another injury, or is he closer to retirement?
Can Etan Thomas learn how to pass the ball?
That's a question for every single player, and we haven't gotten to the trade idea yet.
Now onto the trade, with Billy saying that the team won't look much different than now, that means Eric Snow isn't going anywhere. Look for players like John Salmons, Marc Jackson, Greg Buckner, Derrick Coleman and Glenn Robinson to be waved in front of the faces other teams. When I read Billy King referring to the Sixers core I think of Iverson, Iguodala, McKie, Snow, Dalembert.
The number one priority for the Sixers has to be buying out Derrick Coleman's contract, the longer he's around, the worse things are. He no showed the year end meetings, and didn't meet with Obie so hopefully they'll get him out of the way ASAP. Right after him they have to approach Buckner, if they can't jettison him out of town via trade.
What could we get back in exchange for what we have? Not much. Billy King impressed me with how he handled the draft, but when it comes to trade negotiations he still hasn't shown that he is able to out think opposing GMs in deals. Which makes me fear that we're going to send out a future #1 for a player without much upside and an ugly contract.
Billy King: Sixers WILL use MLE; Roster WON'T look vastly different
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