As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare to take the next step in the rebuild, here are a few routes the Sixers can take in the next few months
The fans in the City of Brotherly Love haven’t seen playoff basketball since the Spring of 2013. That may not seem so far off, especially considering teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves have gone well over a decade without a postseason appearance; however, Philadelphia isn’t exactly a sports town bursting at the seams with patience.
This rebuild is now in it’s third season, and there’s no immediate end in sight for the franchise. The only stability the organization has managed to find is in head coach Brett Brown. The franchise has clung to their play-caller at a time when many other franchises would have opted to go in a different direction. They’ve shown support in his vision and slowly but surely he’s proving that he can develop the group they’ve assembled the Philadelphia 76ers into a legitimate team.
Coach Brown needs help though, and that help needs to come from the decision makers in the front office. In three consecutive drafts, the Sixers have selected one-and-done collegiate centers. Two of those bigs entered the league with pre-existing medical issues; while Nerlens Noel returned to action after one season though, Joel Embiid is now riding the sidelines for a second consecutive campaign.
The latest draft choice has been panning out much better in the form of Jahlil Okafor. Now the organization needs to decide (assuming they see Okafor as a cornerstone) what they can do with the other tries at a franchise big man.
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The Sixers can have as many as four draft selections come June, most of which are protected based on other team’s finishes. Their own pick, at the moment would be good for the top pick in 2016 in a non-lottery world. They have the Lakers pick, unless it winds up in the top three of the draft in which case it would return to LA.
They also have the Miami Heat selection, which is top-10 protected; and they also own OKC’s pick which is protected through the top 15. This puts the Philadelphia 76ers in an exceptional spot to quickly add some valuable pieces for their rebuilding effort.
One thought in assembling their future is to slot the offensive juggernaut/defensively limited Okafor in as the team’s franchise power forward. This would provide Noel and Embiid with the opportunity to step in as the defensive anchors they once seemed destined to be at the center position.
This has to be the lowest point for the Philadelphia 76ers
Then, with the upcoming slew of draft picks the Sixers have coming their way in the next few years, they can focus their efforts on retooling their backcourt to match the frontcourt potential that they already have. In the modern NBA landscape, this type of lineup featuring two legitimate inside dominant bigs is a relic of the past. Some teams have managed to make it work though with consistent success, a la the Memphis Grizzlies.
Another option is to focus draft efforts on finding Okafor a different frontcourt running mate, and with the Sixers destined for a high lottery selection this year, many eyes are fixated on LSU’s Ben Simmons who appears to be the consensus No. 1 selection.
Even after pulling in the dominant collegiate forward to pair with Okafor, the Sixers can turn their attention to the backcourt with the remaining picks they have. In this scenario, they could choose to part ways with either Noel or Embiid (or both) and bring in some more future picks or a role player that better suits their vision of the organization’s future.
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Regardless of how the 76ers opt to build their franchise for the future, they need to start showing some sign of improvement sooner rather than later. Much like New Yorkers, the fans in Philadelphia will love and support you when you’re putting forth your best possible roster and effort on a nightly basis. On the same note though, those cheers can quickly turn to boos when they grow impatient with losing.
This has to be the lowest point for the Philadelphia 76ers. Starting with this coming draft, the franchise needs to show some signs of progress if this rebuild effort is to be deemed an even remote success.