Philadelphia

76ers

Bball Paul will be back in a Sixers uniform for the 2023-24 season, where he’ll operate as Joel Embiid’s primary backup. Given Embiid’s propensity for missing games, Reed should be a popular streaming option when the reigning MVP is sidelined.

Not selected in last month’s NBA Draft, Council was signed to a two-way deal by the 76ers. While he faces a difficult fight for rotation minutes, the rookie wing is capable of developing into that kind of player. Council played with high energy on both ends of the floor, leading the 76ers in rebounding as they won their opener in Las Vegas. Look for Council to spend a considerable amount of time with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate next season.

After appearing in a total of 18 NBA games during his first two seasons in Philadelphia, Springer is looking to make a positive impression on new head coach Nick Nurse. Performances like the one he produced against the Knicks will go a long way toward getting Springer a credible look in training camp. While he’s still unlikely to be a factor in fantasy basketball, especially if the 76ers don’t trade James Harden, at the very least the 2021 first-round pick can improve his chances of getting time on the back end of the rotation.

BBall Paul will be playing home games in Salt Lake City in 2023-24 unless the Sixers match his offer sheet. The team has until 11:59 ET on Sunday to match. Reed has shined when given playing time in Joel Embiid’s absence, but it’s unclear what kind of role he would play in Utah with John Collins and Walker Kessler cemented as frontcourt starters.

Harrell was a depth piece that didn’t see much of a role behind Joel Embiid last season. He declined his player option and could’ve signed anywhere, but he opted to remain in Philly and compete with Mo Bamba and Paul Reed for the backup center spot. There isn’t any fantasy value coming from Embiid’s backup, unless he’s not in the lineup. However, with three guys behind him competing for minutes, none of them will be great options.

Springer hasn’t really been able to see minutes through his first two seasons in the league, but he has been a starter for Philly in Summer League. The 76ers haven’t had many draft picks over the last few seasons, so their Summer League rosters are generally barren in comparison to other teams. That gives young guys like Springer the opportunity to lead the team in scoring, but it’s unlikely that he’s part of their rotation this upcoming season.

Smart is looking to catch on with the 76ers after spending last season with the Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League. Becoming a more efficient offensive player while also showing that he can contribute defensively would go a long way toward making that happen, and Smart played well against the Jazz. That said, he may be playing for that third two-way contract this summer, even though the 76ers currently only have 10 players under contract for next season. Rookies Ricky Council IV and Terquavion Smith have already been signed to two-way deals.

With Council being on a two-way contract, it could be difficult for him to lock down consistent rotation minutes once the regular season begins. That said, the athletic wing is the kind of versatile player that new 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has been able to develop in the past. Council was highly active on both ends of the floor, tallying four “stocks” while also dishing out five assists and scoring 14 points. He isn’t a player that fantasy managers should plan on drafting in the fall, but Council can do a lot for himself with a quality showing in Las Vegas.

Less than a week after he was waived by the Lakers, Bamba has found a new home. The 7-footer was limited to 49 games between the Magic and Lakers last season, averaging 6.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in just under 16 minutes, shooting 48.5% from the field. While Bamba has shown flashes of the potential that made him the sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, he hasn’t been able to put it all together. In Philadelphia, he’ll provide additional depth behind Joel Embiid while also serving as a “safety net” in case the 76ers don’t re-sign Paul Reed. According to Wojnarowski, the 76ers have “every intention” of keeping the restricted free agent. If Reed remains in Philadelphia, that likely limits Bamba’s fantasy potential even more.

Springer didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, but he made up for it by being productive in other areas. The 2021 first-round pick appeared in a total of 18 games during his first two seasons, but the head coaching change could prove beneficial. Something else to keep an eye on is what the 76ers will do with James Harden, who has requested to be traded. With Shake Milton moving on in free agency, a potential Harden trade could free up rotation minutes for Springer. He isn’t worth drafting right now, but a lot can change between now and September.