Sixers’ quiet draft night sets up intriguing free agency centered on James Harden, Tobias Harris

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced the 58th and final pick of the 2023 NBA draft — Kentucky forward Chris Livingston to the Milwaukee Bucks — after midnight, as Thursday crossed into Friday.

And the nearly five-hour event at the Barclays Center came and went with zero 76ers presence. They entered the night with no selections because of trades and punishment for an NBA tampering investigation. They did not make a trade, like the deal they pulled off to acquire De’Anthony Melton last year. They did not buy into the second round, instead signing undrafted players Ricky Council IV, Azuolas Tubelis, and Terquavion Smith to two-way deals and Marcus Bagley to an Exhibit 10 contract.

It was the calm before an intriguing free-agency period begins the night of June 30, when the Sixers will aim to maintain their championship aspirations under new coach Nick Nurse and maximize reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s prime following another second-round playoff exit.

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The most prominent question remains the status of James Harden, last season’s NBA assist leader who is expected to decline his player option for 2023-24, become an unrestricted free agent, and at least consider returning to the Houston Rockets. Though president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and Nurse have publicly expressed a desire for Harden to return to Philly, the Sixers are not willing to harm their short- and long-term future with an albatross deal.

The Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents include sharpshooter Georges Niang, athletic wing Jalen McDaniels, and reserve guard Shake Milton, while backup big man Paul Reed is a restricted free agent. Reserve wing Danuel House Jr. has picked up his player option for the coming season, while reserve center Montrezl Harrell will decline his player option.

And following Harden’s decision, the offseason could hinge on what they decide to do with Tobias Harris. His lucrative contract is entering its final season, and trading it could be the best way to add complementary players — especially if Harden leaves, and the Sixers have no cap space to replace him directly. The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reported earlier this week that at least the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers have inquired about Harris, but that the Sixers would only trade him for a package that significantly improves the roster.

Draft night was relatively quiet leaguewide, following a busy few days when the transactional cycle began spinning.

It started with the Sunday bomb that the Washington Wizards had traded three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal (along with Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd) to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and multiple second-round draft picks and pick swaps.

Then, the Wizards continued their teardown with a dramatic Wednesday, sending center Kristaps Porzingis (and draft picks) to the Boston Celtics in a three-way trade that initially involved the Los Angeles Clippers before shifting to the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis got 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from Boston, while Washington received Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, and draft compensation. Finally, the Wizards, on Thursday afternoon, rerouted Paul to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole and draft picks.

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Though those deals do not directly involve the Sixers, they do impact both ends of the Eastern Conference spectrum.

The Celtics — who beat the Sixers in seven games in the second round before falling to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals — acquired Porzingis, a skilled 7-footer coming off his highest-scoring NBA season. But they lost Smart, the defensive irritant who also is a streaky three-point shooter, capable ballhandler, and emotional leader. Questions now also linger about Malcolm Brogdon, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year who reportedly has a “significant” injury that caused the initial deal with the Clippers to fall apart. The Celtics eventually added Arkansas forward Jordan Walsh following four draft-day trades on Thursday.

On the opposite side, the Wizards are entering a clear rebuild under new head of basketball operations Michael Winger. Poole can be an electric scorer, but, after signing a massive extension last summer, Draymond Green’s preseason punch hovered during an inconsistent 2022-23 season. Jones, who has established a reputation as arguably the league’s best backup point guard, should be in line for a bigger role with the Wizards.

Other draft picks by East contenders Thursday included the Heat adding UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. at 18th overall; the Brooklyn Nets adding Alabama’s Noah Clowney and Duke’s Dariq Whitehead in the first round, and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson in the second round; the Bucks adding Connecticut’s Andre Jackson Jr. and Livingston in the second round; and the Cleveland Cavaliers adding Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates in the second round.

The Sixers, meanwhile, essentially sat draft night out.

Consider it the calm before a fascinating offseason revs up next week.