With the Sixers in need of guard help and Sam Hinkie saying the team will be "discerning" in free agency, we take a look at which players they could target on the open market.
Norris Cole, point guard
Age: 26
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175
Last team: New Orleans Pelicans
2014-15 salary: $2,038,206
Status: Restricted free agent
Scouting report
Norris Cole has experienced a lot during his short NBA career.
The 28th overall pick in 2011 was selected by Chicago, traded to Minnesota and dealt again to Miami all on draft night. That worked out well for Cole, who ended up on a star-studded Heat squad led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Even with all those superstars, Cole still worked his way into the rotation and found himself on the floor during critical situations as the Heat won back-to-back NBA championships.
Cole was traded again this past season, this time to the New Orleans Pelicans to back up former Sixer Jrue Holiday.
Whether with the Heat or Pelicans, whether a starter or a reserve, Cole always brings the same high level of energy to the court every night. He's a scrappy player on both ends, who fights for every inch of space he — and that high-top fade — can get.
NBA
Offensively, Cole uses his shiftiness to get in the lane for either a shot at the rim or a kick to an open teammate. And while he's not a great perimeter shooter by any means, Cole can go through stretches in which he gets hot.
The PG showed glimpses of what his potential could be on the offensive side once he was dealt to the Pelicans and assumed a larger role. Cole posted career highs in points (9.9 per game) and three-point shooting (37.8 percent) after being shipped to New Orleans.
Projection
Cole is the quintessential jack of all trades, master of none.
While he can score, pass, rebound and defend at a decent level, it's not really enough to bother throwing any significant free-agent money at him.
If Cole is willing to accept a deal to merely be a stopgap at point guard for a season or two while bringing his championship pedigree to Philadelphia, that's fine. Otherwise, the Sixers would be better off waiting for a bigger bang at such an important position.