Quiet summer expected for Sixers

Check out the original article from Philly.com here.
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Since free agency began over a week ago, the Sixers have been associated with several scenarios.

First, the team was reported as interested in Avery Bradley, who has since re-signed with the Celtics. More recently, the team is reportedly involved in trade talks centered on Jeremy Lin, and Amare Stoudemire, separately. 

I guess when you have the most salary cap space across the league’s landscape and no immediate intention to win, it is no surprise that teams looking to clear cap space would be interested in talking to you.

One of these moves may happen, since the Sixers, thanks to the work of their shrewd GM, have the salary space to absorb one of these absurd contacts that other GMs haphazardly handed out.

Despite the star-power that used to be associated with names like Lin and Stoudemire, these moves would not be made to improve the Sixers on-court in the upcoming season. In fact, there’s no guanatee that Lin or Stoudemire would even suit up for the Sixers if acquired. No, for Sam Hinkie’s Sixers, any such made moves would be all about assets; what else the organization can get in return for absorbing such a constricting contract that affords the other organization financial flexibility.

You want us to take on Amare Stoudemire? Sure, throw in Iman Shumpert, your 24 year old 6’5’’ shooting guard who is dedicated defensively.

Oh, you want to unload Jeremy Lin so you can have space to sign Carmelo or Chris Bosh? We’ll take him, just throw in your 2015 first-round pick and we’ve got a deal.

At this stage for the Sixers, it is still all about acquiring assets, and building the foundation of the franchise. Noel, Embiid, and Carter-Williams are building blocks, and potential franchise cornerstones. In Hollis Thompson, K.J. McDaniels, and Jerami Grant the team may have some more bricks for the foundation (no pun on the team’s inability to shoot). Dario Saric is stashed overseas, improving his game until he is ready to come over and contribute to a contender. While the team remains driven to add assets and develop a deep and wide-ranging talent pool, the pieces are falling into place.

Thus, despite all the rumors and scintillating scenarios, expect a quiet summer for the Sixers. Outside of absorbing a large contract for a single season in order to acquire more assets (Amare Stoudemire is owed $23 million this season, but comes off of the books next summer. Jeremy Lin is owed close to $15 million this year, but would also be off the books after a single season), don’t expect the organization to dive deeply into that cap space.

The team’s financial flexibility is one of their biggest assets going forward, and will come in very handy a couple seasons down the line when the franchise is looking to add free agents to further true title contention. Sam Hinkie won’t hamstring the franchise’s future by handing out any serious deals the summer before another struggle of a season.

The Sixers will continue to be mentioned as a potential landing spot throughout the free agency frenzy as a result of their copious cap space, and they may well take on an unattractive contract in order to add assets. Other than that though, a pretty quiet summer could be expected from the Sixers.