76ers Urged To Sign 28-Year-Old Center in Free Agency

The Philadelphia 76ers still need to think carefully about their center depth.

Nick Richards may be worth a look.

A FanSided article from The Sixer Sense recently made the case that Philadelphia should pursue Richards, pointing to the Bulls’ apparent lack of urgency with the veteran big man. The argument makes sense on the surface. The Sixers need reliable size behind Joel Embiid, and Richards is the kind of player who could be available at a manageable price.

That does not mean he is a perfect answer.

Richards is coming off a middling season with Chicago. His production was useful in spots, but it did not exactly scream long-term solution. According to DataBallr, Richards posted a minus-7.1 net on/off, placing him in the 11th percentile league-wide. That is not a small concern. When a team performs that much worse with a player on the floor, it forces the front office to ask how much of the issue is context and how much is the player.

Philadelphia cannot afford to add a frontcourt player who creates new problems. The roster is already expensive, and the team is trying to build around high-usage pieces such as Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe. The Sixers need role players who make the game easier, not players who require too much adjustment.

Still, Richards has traits that are worth considering.

His rebounding remains the clearest selling point. He has size, length, and a natural feel for finding the ball around the rim. Philadelphia has needed more players who can finish possessions defensively, keep plays alive offensively, and give the team a different kind of physical presence when Embiid is off the floor.

The offensive fit could also look better in Philadelphia than it did in Chicago. Richards is not a player who should be asked to create his own offense. He needs easy chances: dump-offs, lobs, putbacks, and rolls to the rim. With Maxey collapsing defenses, Brown forcing help, and Embiid drawing attention, Richards could find cleaner looks than he received in a less stable offensive environment.

That could help his efficiency.

Richards shot only 51.2 percent from the field last season, which is not ideal for a center who does most of his work near the basket. But on a team with better creators and clearer spacing, that number could improve. 

Overall, Richards is not a flashy target. He is not someone who would change Philadelphia’s ceiling by himself. But if the price is low, he could give the Sixers rebounding, size, and a backup center option with room to look better in a cleaner role.

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 Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].