The Philadelphia 76ers need players with a winning track record. The Sixers are constantly putting up the work during the regular season but fall short in the playoffs when things get rough for them on both ends of the floor. This past year, Philly was lacking a true star-stopper that could end the hot streak of the opponent superstar.
Jalen Brunson had record-setting games against the Sixers and was nearly unstoppable in the series that the Knicks won 4-2 in the first-round of the NBA playoffs. Brunson registered averages of 38.2 points, 9.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the last five games against Philly, per Stat Muse. The All-Star guard had 40+ points in each of the last three games that clinched the series vs. the 76ers.
The franchise will need to press on the summer heading into a crucial offseason for its future as the Philadelphia 76ers fans are getting impatient after consecutive heartbreaking playoff exits. As we said previously, they are plenty of option in the market, especially for a franchise like the Sixers who are entering the offseason with just two active contracts.
That said, Philadelphia will also have the 16th pick of the 2024 draft and some other future assets after their selection to add suitable pieces around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Bruce Brown, who was a mentioned candidate that circulated in the rumor mill for the Sixers in February, might be the optimal option to add alongside the star-duo of Maxey and Embiid.
Bruce Brown had a pivotal role in an NBA championship team
Bruce Brown has the know-how when it comes to winning in the postseason. He was part of a few successful teams including the 2023 NBA champions Denver Nuggets. The dynamic wing was crucial in the Nuggets championship run averaging 12.0 points on 51.1% shooting from the field through 20 games. The Miami product also had 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists and was a plus-5.2 in a highly competitive environment.
Brown was the point-of-attack defender for the Nikola Jokic-led Denver and was crucial in shutting down various stars along the way. His shooting from deep is not at the average NBA level, but he’s an excellent cutter in the offensive end. While Joel Embiid is not the passing bigman Jokic is, the center from Cameroon has made great strides in that department this season. With that in mind, Brown cutting-to-the basket ability can also be utilized in Philly.
During the 2022 season, Brown played the role of the secondary ball-handler in some cases, while he’s also capable of rolling to the basket in pick&roll situations. Brown is an effective player in various schemes as he had even played as a small-ball center during his time in Brooklyn playing alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Can the 76ers find a formula to bring Brown to Philadelphia?
After winning the championship with the Denver Nuggets, Brown got paid in the last offseason earning a base salary of $23M for the upcoming season. The Miami product signed a two-year deal worth around $45M with the Indiana Pacers last summer and he was traded mid-season to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Pascal Siakam deal.
With the Raptors in rebuilding mode, Brown should be expandable and if a team with a promising asset inquire about him, then a deal will be possible. The Raptors need future assets and the Sixers have a number of these including the 16th pick in this year’s draft. That said, they also have the cap space to accommodate a trade without giving up salary back, so Brown might be the ideal move for them before July.
With his looming free agency next offseason, the Raptors guard/forward might be a risky proposition, but the 76ers will have to make some tough choices if they want to win the championship during the current window. Joel Embiid is getting older, Tyrese Maxey will be even better next year, and Philadelphia knows that time is of essence heading into a crucial 2024/25 campaign.
