The Philadelphia 76ers’ 2025 free company interval has been a combined bag.
On one hand, they’ve added two fascinating forwards to their roster in Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker, and did not even must pay an arm or a leg to do it, with the previous signing for the minimal whereas the latter agreed to a two-way deal. The previous has a really fascinating sport, with spectacular passing to go along with a beneath the rim sport, and what he lacks in conventional athleticism and rebounding for the place can greater than be compensated for by Jabari Walker, who averaged 7.1 rebounds per sport in simply 23.6 minutes of motion an evening in the course of the 2023-24 season.
And but, the additions of Watford and Walker include a tinge of disappointment, as they may take up minutes performed final season by Guerschon Yabusele, who formally signed with the New York Knicks on the taxpayer mid-level exception. Issue within the workforce’s personal MLE being successfully held hostage by Quinten Grimes as he continues to barter with the 76ers towards a brand new contract in restricted free company, and Philadelphia has been left in a holding sample with no plan to fill out their roster.
Might the 76ers add one other massive ahead in free company when Grimes indicators on the dotted line? Certain, there are many gamers who can do a factor or two the 76ers want on a budget, but when Daryl Morey is severe about actually upgrading the roster, he might need to as an alternative execute a commerce for a legit playoff contender Nick Nurse can belief within the postseason. Fortuitously, they’ve an opportunity to do exactly that, as one workforce’s unlucky setback might grow to be Philadelphia’s alternative.
The 76ers ought to take a swing for Obi Toppin
What do the 76ers really need from an influence ahead in 2025? Effectively, this participant wants to have the ability to shoot, as Joel Embiid at all times thrives with 4 shooters round him, swap on protection, and hopefully be a weapon within the fastbreak, the place speedy gamers like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe thrive.
Obi Toppin suits all of these bins to a T, as anybody who watched the 2025 NBA Finals can attest.
Initially drafted out of Dayton eighth total within the 2020 NBA Draft, Toppin has developed himself into one of many extra fascinating forwards within the NBA, even when he by no means grew to become a star like some could have hoped. Standing 6-foot-9, 220 kilos, Toppin got here into the NBA as a skywalker with Slam Dunk Contest pedigree, however he is since added a powerful exterior shot to his resume, nailing 38.3 % of his exterior seems to be as a member of the Pacers.
Consider an ascending DBPM, going from a -.8 throughout his closing 12 months in New York to a -0.1 final fall, and including Toppin to the 76ers’ roster couldn’t solely change Yabu’s anticipated position in 2024-25 – minus taking part in backup middle – however present Philadelphia with some much-needed athleticism of their frontcourt subsequent to Embiid and Paul George no matter whether or not he is known as a small or energy ahead in any given lineup.
Had the Pacers gained the NBA Championship or simply returned a wholesome roster, Toppin doubtless would not be out there this summer time, as he ranked sixth on the workforce in postseason minutes per sport, however sadly, that simply is not the case. Tyrese Haliburton will virtually actually miss your entire 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles tendon, they usually already misplaced long-time middle Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after a decade with the workforce.
Would the Pacers be keen to maneuver off of Toppin, who was already a luxurious on a four-year, $60 million contract? Contemplating the workforce’s objectives, which seem like having a spot 12 months earlier than attacking free company subsequent summer time, transferring Toppin for expiring contracts and draft capital can be a strong possibility as Rick Carlisle and firm plan for one more shot on the title in 2027.
With Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond opting into their contracts for the 2025-26 season, might the 76ers bundle the duo plus two second-round picks – the worth the Pacers additionally paid for Toppin – to convey the do-it-all ahead to Philadelphia? Contemplating Indiana’s want for one more middle and an empty calorie scorer who can take in minutes and buckets throughout this hole 12 months, a Toppin commerce might make sense for each side.
Nobody left in free company is nearly as good a match as Obi Toppin
So, if the 76ers do not commerce for Toppin, are there any energy ahead choices who might match the invoice on the $5.7 million MLE? Effectively, that is determined by what invoice Morey is seeking to match, as there are not any gamers with the identical seamless match as Toppin.
If the 76ers need playmaking and protection on the 4 spot, they might at all times name up their outdated pal Ben Simmons, who stays a free agent after an underwhelming post-Philadelphia profession with the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Bringing Simmons again will surely create headlines, particularly since he is considerably modified his tune on his run in Philadelphia, however he’s notoriously not a playoff nearer, which limits his ceiling with the workforce.
Turning the web page from a former 76er to Nurse’s former Raptors, there are two forwards who’re free brokers this summer time and have not been picked up by one other workforce but, in Chris Boucher and Treasured Achiuwa.
Boucher has been linked to Philadelphia on and off for some time now, as he is performed nicely in opposition to the workforce as a 6-foot-10 ahead who can play switchable D and shoot a couple of 3s, however he is been a minus defender for years now and has by no means actually taken a step ahead to grow to be a starting-caliber participant. At greatest, Boucher might fill a rotational position within the common season, however might fall out of the rotation when it shrinks within the playoffs.
Achiuwa additionally has expertise taking part in for Nurse and was a member of the Knicks throughout their Japanese Convention Finals journey earlier this 12 months, however he, too, is not actually a needle-mover worthy of a Nicolas Batum/Yabusele-style glow up on a budget. In his first full season with the Knicks, Achiuwa averaged near-career lows throughout the board, selecting up simply 6.6 factors and 5.6 rebounds per sport on 20.5 minutes per evening. Achiuwa would not actually shoot 3s, averaging simply 1.2 pictures per sport over his 320-game common season profession, and his 30.4 completion share highlights why he is grow to be extra of an inside scorer.
Might Achiuwa play some 4 subsequent to Embiid and kick it inside to be an undersized middle like Yabusele earlier than him? Certain, he’d be okay in that position, but when Tom Thibodeau could not belief him within the playoffs, why ought to Nurse? Higher to stay with Watford and even Walker than spend massive on a non-shooting, undersized massive.
No, if the 76ers actually wish to enhance their workforce now with out sacrificing their future, buying and selling for a participant like Toppin whereas signing an enormous, underappreciated wing like Amir Coffey merely makes essentially the most sense to fill out the roster transferring ahead, as there simply aren’t sufficient 3-and-D forwards left in the marketplace to fill a sizeable position transferring ahead.