Every NBA franchise has made its share of mistakes on the open market. But even though the 76ers hit big in the draft, their failures in free agency were particularly egregious. Decisions made this summer hindered Allen Iverson’s prime and affected Joel Embiid’s most productive years.
With these moves in mind, we look back at the 10 worst signings in Sixers history.
10. Kwame Brown
Even though he didn’t sign a big contract, Kwame Brown’s limitations were well documented by the time he arrived in Philadelphia. Signed for two years and $6 million, Brown’s deal wasn’t particularly punitive but unnecessary. Taking a flyer on a former No. 1 pick makes sense most of the time, but that wasn’t the case for Brown.
9. Dikembé Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo is an NBA legend and played a major role in the Sixers’ NBA Finals run in 2001. Yet the deal he signed with the Sixers did not match his production, nor exceed expectations at that time. stage of his career. Never a big scorer, he arrived in Philadelphia on a four-year, $68 million contract. But by that time, his best days as a rim protector were behind him after long stints with the Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks. While playing in an All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Mutombo was near the end of his prime years. He signed with the Sixers in 2001 and never started more than 56 games in a season after leaving them in 2002.
8. Jerryd Bayless
Jerryd Bayless joined the Sixers on a three-year, $27 million contract after a lackluster performance with four teams in eight years. Due to a left wrist injury, he only played in three games in the first year of his contract and struggled after returning to start the 2017–18 season. Bayless was out of Philadelphia and out of the NBA after playing the final year of that contract in Milwaukee.
7. Samuel Dalembert
Samuel Dalembert wasn’t terrible with the Sixers – but his contract was. A solid player who did the dirty work on defense and rebounding, Dalembert was re-signed to a six-year contract worth $65 million in 2005. During that deal, his best year came with averaging 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds in 2007. 08.
6. Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris’ contract has been a major topic every offseason since he signed it. For the Sixers, who have often been forced to search for a third star to pair with Joel Embiid and/or Ben Simmons and James Harden, the deal has been a thorn in the side, mainly because Harris is paid like said star . He signed a deal worth $180 million over five years in 2019.
5. Matt Geiger
Matt Geiger was loved but overpaid. A member of Allen Iverson’s team that reached the NBA Finals in 2001, he earned a six-year, $51 million contract despite poor numbers. In fact, his deal was so favorable that he had a business advantage and was able to cancel a deal that would have sent Iverson to the Detroit Pistons.
4. Scott Williams
Scott Williams proved his mettle as a member of the Chicago Bulls’ starting teams, winning three championships as part of their first three-peat. After this performance, Williams signed a seven-year contract with the Sixers. The fact that the Bulls never made an offer to the undrafted player from North Carolina should have been a sign to the Sixers, who were hanging on since Scott never averaged better than 6.4 points and 6 .3 rebounds.
3. Al Horford
Most teams would have been happy to sign Al Horford in 2019, so the Sixers weren’t necessarily wrong to covet him. What they need to do is offer a four-year, $109 million contract without evaluating his place in their franchise. Anchored by big man Joel Embiid and forward Ben Simmons at the time, they were light on shooting and spacing. The three players never got along and when president of basketball Daryl Morey was hired, his first task was to offload that contract.
2. Elton Brand
Elton Brand, who is now general manager of the Sixers, was a big scorer with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers before joining Philly on a five-year, $82 million deal. In his defense, Brand suffered serious injuries, including a torn Achilles before joining the Sixers. But that doesn’t change the situation here. After averaging 20 and 10 over the first nine years of his career, he averaged 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in five years in Philadelphia.
1. Kenny Thomas
The Sixers signed Thomas to a contract worth $50 million over seven years. This was no small change in 2002. So while Thomas had serviceable numbers, 12.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, he had never proven that he could be more than that – serviceable – until the Sixers aren’t throwing money at him. The main problem with Thomas and the deal the Sixers offered him: He was a financial drag on a franchise trying to capitalize on Allen Iverson’s prime.
