The Philadelphia 76ers will have a lot of money to spend in the 2024 NBA offseason. Since Joel Embiid is in his best years, the Sixers must use the money wisely. One possibility is OG Anunoby, who may become a free agent.
Anunoby has a player option for $19.9 million, which he will probably turn down. If he does, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey explained why he thinks Anunoby would be a good free agent option for the Sixers.
“The Sixers’ a lot of cap space could be best used for high-quality role players,” Bailey wrote in a story on March 19. “Anunoby is nearly a high-quality role player, and his defense would greatly improve Philly's team. It's also important to have shooters supporting Embiid and Maxey in the middle of the court, and Anunoby fits that role.”
Anunoby has experience playing with Nick Nurse and Kyle Lowry. They were teammates for several years, one of which ended with a championship for the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
Anunoby is in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract.
GM’s Caution OG Anunoby’s Next Contract
Several GMs talked to Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney, discussing Anunoby’s upcoming free agency. With him sidelined again with an elbow injury, one executive said his injury-prone tendencies are worrying for any team interested in signing him.
“It has to worry you,” an Eastern Conference GM told Deveney in a story on March 20. “He is going to get a lot of money from the Knicks, but he is starting to look like a player who is just injury-prone and that makes you nervous, paying him that much.”
Because of what the New York Knicks gave up to get him, the executive predicted what he’ll want from them.
“He will try to break the bank there,” the GM said. “Why not? They can’t afford to lose him. Not a max deal or anything, but I think from his side, it is going to look more like $40 million per year, something like four years and $160 million.”
A Western Conference executive compared Anunoby to another star and champion to outline what he’ll likely want.
“He’s probably around where Middleton is, maybe just a little more.”
Middleton is on a three-year, $93 million contract with incentives that could push it to $100 million. That could potentially be around what Anunoby will demand. Given that he’s also younger than Middleton, he may ask for more.
Sixers ‘Loom as Eager Suitor’ for Paul George
If Anunoby is off the table, the Sixers could consider other wing players, like Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George. In fact, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Sixers are very interested in George if he becomes a free agent and gives them a chance to try to sign him,
based on Stein's information from March 20 . “The Sixers are said to maintain interest in George despite the widely held presumption that he and Leonard want to keep playing together in their native Southern California.”Anunoby and George are among the best wing players available in free agency. If they decide to test the free agent market, the Sixers could be very appealing by offering them the money they want and a chance to compete for a championship.
Andy Bailey from Bleacher Report stated his reasons for thinking that OG Anunoby could be a good free agent option for the Sixers.
