Grading the 2019 NBA offseason for all 30 franchises

Philadelphia 76ers

After two mid-season blockbuster deals that brought in two high-level free agents, the Philadelphia 76ers were headed towards a busy offseason.

The moves they wound up making caught many by surprise but ultimately improved upon a team a few bounces away from the Eastern Conference Finals.

Philly made fast work in re-signing Tobias Harris to a five-year max contract worth $180 million. Harris had struggled to adjust to his role as a fourth option which may raise some questions about the value of the deal he signed.

With a training camp to fully acclimate and more shots to come, his on-court production is sure to increase.

Those extra touches are a result of a surprising sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat that essentially swapped Jimmy Butler for Josh Richardson. Butler was a two-way force and a closer for the Sixers. There’s no replacing that.

Richardson, however, is a high-energy wing who can also defend at a high level and is coming off a season in which he shot 35.7 percent from downtown with 16.5 points per game.

He’ll offset the loss of sniper J.J. Redick with a level of abilities at the defensive end the diminutive Redick just couldn’t offer.

Maybe the most surprising signing of the offseason came from Al Horford, who spurned the Boston Celtics only to sign with their rival down the coast. The five-time All-Star has yearned to occupy the power forward slot.

He’ll now get the chance to do so while also serving as a perfect insurance policy at both ends to the often-injured Joel Embiid.

The Sixers still lack shooting, they don’t have a closer and their projected starting lineup certainly has its kinks to iron out. With Richardson the shortest at 6’6”, it’s also a lineup that will be a nightmare defensively with a championship-level ceiling to reach.

Grade: A-