Potential 76ers Buyout Candidate Joins Eastern Conference Contender

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers filled one of their few recently-opened roster spots with the addition of the veteran guard Kyle Lowry.

By adding another guard to the backcourt, one can assume the Sixers might look to add some depth in the frontcourt after failing to trade for a big man ahead of the trade deadline.

One potential candidate came from the Detroit Pistons. Danilo Gallinari, a player the Sixers know very well at this point, recently became available after getting waived by the rebuilding squad.

While Gallinari’s name has generated some buzz around the City of Brotherly Love, there was more smoke surrounding the veteran possibly joining a Western Conference contender early on post-trade-deadline.

According to Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin, the Suns were eyeing Gallinari as a potential addition to their roster. Being that the Suns are all-in, with a star-studded roster headlined by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, they match the timeline of the 35-year-old Gallinari, who has dealt with notable injury concerns in recent times.

The Suns weren't alone. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Chicago Bulls were also intrigued with Gallinari before he ultimately landed on the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Following a two-year run with the Atlanta Hawks, Gallinari was involved in an offseason trade, which dealt him to the San Antonio Spurs in 2022. Shortly after, the Spurs waived the veteran, allowing him to hit the free agency market and figure out his next move for himself.

The Boston Celtics acquired Gallinari on a two-year deal. Although the signing was met with praise, Gallinari would never make a debut in Boston, as a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2022-2023 NBA season.

Once again involved in an offseason trade, Gallinari landed with the Washington Wizards. He started the 2023-2024 season off by playing in 26 games in Washington. He averaged seven points and three rebounds. 

By mid-January, Gallinari was moved to the Detroit Pistons. He appeared in six games with Detroit. During his limited stretch, he averaged nine points, two rebounds, and two assists while shooting 55 percent from the field.

Frontcourt depth is thin for the Sixers, who have seen stretches of absences from notable players such as Joel Embiid, Nic Batum, and Robert Covington. 

While the team’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, made it clear that a signed frontcourt prospect likely wouldn’t garner a pivotal role with the current squad, Gallinari was still a player to keep on the radar as long as he’s available. 

At this point, that's no longer the case. Gallinari will join an Eastern Conference contender, with the situation taking one notable frontcourt player off the buyout market this week.