76ers predicted to sign $209M versatile 18-year veteran, reliable shooter, ex-LeBron James rival

76ers predicted to sign $209M versatile 18-year veteran, reliable shooter, ex-LeBron James rival originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia 76ers had a tough regular season last year, battling injuries and everything else an 82-game season brings with it. The 76ers were able to upset the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, which came as a surprise.

Then, Philadelphia entered the offseason, where they made some real moves. They were able to trade for Jaylen Brown and finished it off by signing LeBron James.

“LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced Friday," ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote. "James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania."

The 76ers have filled 14 of the 15 roster spots for the upcoming season, meaning there is one more available. Philadelphia will have to figure out who to sign with the final spot without wasting it.

“Of the 14 Sixers signed to a standard contract, each one has not just a feasible path to helping this team win, but a likely one. That is a stark and welcomed change; in his final years running the Sixers, Daryl Morey far too often let roster spots go to waste on players incapable of making a difference,” Philly Voice’s Adam Aaronson wrote.

There are some options on the table. The Sixers Sense’s Nicolas Kyle Pring believes the 76ers should sign veteran Nicolas Batum.

“The sage veteran is no longer someone who can log heavy minutes, but his basketball smarts and positional versatility remain attractive assets to have from a veteran voice in the rotation. One of the most intelligent role players in the league, he is a very easy player to envision fitting well next to Philly's squadron of stars thanks to his low-usage brilliance and two-way efficiency,” Pring wrote.

Batum is an iffy one, as he went back to France to play basketball. However, an NBA contract with a team that he has already played for might get him back. Batum has become a very reliable shooter who can help out any team.

Batum has made $209 million throughout his career. At the very least, he would be a great voice in the locker room for Philadelphia to pair with James and others. It might be a long shot, but it is one they certainly can check in on.