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Who did the Philadelphia 76ers sign today? Tracking 2024 NBA free agency – CBS Philly
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By Tom Ignudo, Tom Dougherty
/ CBS Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey spent the entire 2023-24 season making moves in preparation for the offseason — the most important in the Joel Embiid era.
So far in NBA free agency, Morey has executed his plan perfectly.
Morey landed the biggest player in NBA free agency by signing former Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George to a max contract, gave Tyrese Maxey a well-deserved max-contract extension, brought back Kelly Oubre Jr. and much more.
Here’s a roundup of who Philadelphia has signed this offseason.
Philly native Kyle Lowry has agreed to return to the 76ers on a one-year deal, a source confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia on Thursday night.
Lowry also announced his return on his Instagram page.
Lowry, 38, joined his hometown squad last season in February after he agreed to a contract buyout with the Charlotte Hornets. Lowry said his goal when joining the Sixers last season was to take the team deep into the playoffs, but ultimately they fell short.
In 23 regular season games last season, including 20 starts, Lowry averaged 8.0 points, 4.6 assists and shot 40.4% on three-pointers. He also started all six playoff games in Philadelphia’s first-round series loss against the New York Knicks.
On Wednesday, the Sixers officially announced the deal to sign veteran guard Eric Gordon.
“Eric is a proven shot-maker whose ability to create space and punish defenses that overextend will help solidify an already dynamic offense,” Morey said in a release. “He plays bigger as the moments get bigger which will be key for our playoff run. I’ve known Eric for many years — he is devoted to his craft and continuously works on his game, allowing him to have such a long and successful career. We are lucky to have him in Philly.”
The Sixers made Maxey’s new max contract official Sunday. The first-time All-Star guard will play alongside Embiid and George in Philly’s new big three.
“Tyrese subscribes to the philosophy that every day is a chance to get one percent better and he’s proven that and then some in his first four seasons in the NBA,” Morey said in a statement. “He comes from an amazing family and is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. In partnership with Joel and Paul, Tyrese is critical to our aspirations of delivering an NBA championship to the City of Philadelphia. This extension is a reflection of our belief in Tyrese and I can’t wait to watch his continued evolution as a leader and superstar.”
After the announcement, the Sixers released a video honoring Maxey for his 2023-24 season and even teased a potential return of the popular Allen Iverson-era black jerseys.
Kelly Oubre Jr. officially returned to the Sixers on Sunday on a two-year deal after he played on the veteran minimum last season.
“Kelly was one of our most important contributors last season, bringing physicality, energy, and toughness to the table on a nightly basis,” Morey said in a statement. “We’re excited to have him back and believe he’ll play a key role in our pursuit of a championship.”
The Sixers made the addition of Drummond official Sunday. After spending time with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, Drummond will once again back up Embiid.
“I am thrilled that Andre is coming back to the 76ers. A tremendous presence, and one of the best rebounders the modern NBA has seen, he made a great impact with us during his first stint in Philly and we know he’ll do the same this time around,” Morey said in a statement. “Andre possesses an innate ability to attack the glass and will fortify our formidable front-court.”
Late in the night Saturday, July 6, the Sixers officially announced the George signing.
In a move to make cap space, the 76ers waived backup big man Paul Reed, who spent the past four seasons with the team after Philly selected him No. 58 overall in the 2020 NBA draft.
Reed’s contract wasn’t fully guaranteed after the Sixers lost to the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
Not long after signing Martin, the Sixers made the signing official once the NBA’s moratorium period ended.
“Caleb is a battle-tested performer who has elevated his game when his teams have needed it most,” Morey said in a statement. “We’re excited for him to bring his skillset and mentality to the 76ers.”
The Sixers rounded out their starting lineup by signing former Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin to a four-year, $35 million contract.
Martin, 28, averaged 10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and shot 34.9% on 3-pointers last season in Miami.
Martin, who was undrafted out of NC State, was a crucial role player for the Heat over the past three seasons. In the 2022-23 playoffs when the Heat went to the NBA Finals, Martin averaged 19.3 points on 60% shooting and scored a playoff-career-high 26 points against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Sixers likely weren’t bringing Buddy Hield, the sharpshooter they acquired at last year’s trade deadline back so the team dealt him to the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal for a 2031 second-round pick.
The Philadelphia 76ers and point guard Tyrese Maxey agreed to a max contract extension, a source confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.
The Sixers and Maxey agreed in principle to a five-year, $204 million extension, the source confirmed.
The Sixers have landed the plane and found a third star to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Nine-time All-Star Paul George will sign a max contract with the Sixers, a source confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia Monday morning.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is coming back to Philadelphia. Oubre agreed to a two-year, $16.3 million contract with the Sixers early Monday morning, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
ESPN reported Oubre’s contract has a player option for 2025-26.
The 76ers have agreed to a deal with veteran guard Eric Gordon, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday.
Gordon’s contract will be one year on the veteran minimum, according to Charania.
Gordon, 35, spent last season with the Phoenix Suns. He played 68 games, including 24 starts, and averaged 11.0 points and shot 37.8% on 3-pointers on about six attempts per game.
Gordon has a previous relationship with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey from their time with the Houston Rockets.
Gordon played with the Rockets for seven seasons from 2016-22 and won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 2016-17 season.
Gordon isn’t the first former Rocket Morey has brought into Philadelphia during his time with the Sixers.
Before the 2022 NBA trade deadline, Morey landed former Rocket James Harden in a trade package with the Nets that sent Ben Simmons to Brooklyn.
Later that year, Morey signed former Rockets P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. in the offseason.
Andre Drummond is set to return to Philadelphia. The veteran center plans to sign a two-year, $10-plus million deal with the 76ers, The Athletic reported.
Drummond spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bulls after a brief stint in Philadelphia during the 2021-22 season, where he played 49 games for the Sixers. In that season, Drummond was traded ahead of the NBA trade deadline as part of a package that sent Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets in an exchange that helped the Sixers land James Harden.
Last season with the Bulls, Drummond played in 79 games, including 10 starts, and averaged 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Tom Ignudo is a digital content producer at CBS Philadelphia. Before he joined CBS Philadelphia in 2021, Tom covered high school and college sports for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He covers breaking news, sports and more.
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