By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 
The NBA Draft is just over a week away and free agency kicks off on July 1. While the Philadelphia 76ers will likely be active in the free agency market to bring in outside talent, they made the decision to take care of some internal talent on Wednesday morning, exercising Richaun Holmes' option for the 2018-19 season.
The Philadelphia 76ers have exercised the $1.6 million team option on center Richaun Holmes, league sources told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 13, 2018
This move may come as a surprise to some considering Richaun's role, or lack thereof, in Brett Brown's rotation last season. Also, many expect the Sixers to try and clear as much cap room as possible, but not to worry. Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice reports that Holmes' option is non-guaranteed so it gives the team flexibility to shed his contract if need be.
In 48 games last season, Holmes averaged 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting 56 percent from the floor. It goes without saying that Richaun is a fan-favorite, likely due to his flashiness on the court, whether it be an emphatic dunk or impressive block. Even with his athleticism, Holmes struggled on the defensive side of the ball for the majority of the season, which put him in the No. 3 center spot for the most part. Brett Brown opted to go with Amir Johnson as Joel Embiid's primary back-up and though the veteran big man lacked offense, he was a stable defender all season.
Although the Sixers decided to pick up Holmes' option, it doesn't guarantee a role or a spot on the team. As mentioned earlier, it is a non-guaranteed option, so if Jonah Bolden comes over from Maccabi, Holmes may have a tougher time getting on the floor or on the active roster. Richaun's $1.6 million contract could potentially be used as a trade piece too since it is affordable and he still has the talent to become a solid back-up big man in the NBA. Even with the Sixers exercising the option, expect them to look towards free agency to add another veteran big man like they did with Amir Johnson.
