Ben Simmons-Joel Embiid Duo

[flyerhawk]

How about 3 lottery bigs and 2 lottery guards? Because there's plenty of future draft picks to draft guards with. You don't sack all these years to get back to the playoffs. You do it to overwhelm opposing teams with the amount of talent on the roster.

All you need is 5 straight lottery picks! Yay!

The good news for the Sixers is that the Lakers only have one more year of protected picks and the Kings 2018 #1 is shaping up to be a lottery pick.

But regardless of that, you still need to build a competitive team at some point. Tankapalooza is over. It's time to start building. If they can lure Harrison Barnes over with a max contract that is a good start. But they still need a PG. Mix and matching 5 bigs for 2 positions makes no sense.

 

[Rey]

If Embiid is indeed 100% healthy I have little doubt he can score 15-18 ppg off the jump. I don't care what his college scoring #'s were ... he's a very skilled legit 7'2" guy with a smooth outside J who's reshaped his body with lean muscle mass. He's also worked with pro coaches on techniques and different low post moves for the past two off seasons. I expect a minutes count for the first month, but after that I think he can be a force even in his first season. Not too many true Centers have legit 3 point range ... Embiid can score from inside or outside.

 

[shopson67]

I guess it all depends on how you look at it. The Sixers aren't a cautionary tale yet, unless you are talking about job security for GMs.

Making good draft picks is how you succeed. Higher picks have a higher chance of success but still a risk.

The Sixers are in decent shape IF they can bring in a legit backcourt.

Draft picks are only part of it. You have to sign the right free agents as well. There's a bit of a stench on Philly right now, not sure what quality of free agent is going to take their money (or if they're even done tanking).

 

[eaglesnut]

All you need is 5 straight lottery picks! Yay!

The good news for the Sixers is that the Lakers only have one more year of protected picks and the Kings 2018 #1 is shaping up to be a lottery pick.

But regardless of that, you still need to build a competitive team at some point. Tankapalooza is over. It's time to start building. If they can lure Harrison Barnes over with a max contract that is a good start. But they still need a PG. Mix and matching 5 bigs for 2 positions makes no sense.

You're going to give a Max contract to a player that scores less than 12 points? That's not winning any championships. You can't win without scorers. Overpaying for non-scorers and trying to trade away the only scorer on the team doesn't add up to winning championships.

 

[eaglesnut]

If Embiid is indeed 100% healthy I have little doubt he can score 15-18 ppg off the jump.

He's never been healthy. In college it was his back and post-college it's been his foot. He's done nothing competitive in over a year. He's a hail mary. Hope it connects.

 

[eaglesnut]

Draft picks are only part of it. You have to sign the right free agents as well. There's a bit of a stench on Philly right now, not sure what quality of free agent is going to take their money (or if they're even done tanking).

Don't need to tank. We have high Sacramento picks and a Lakers pick coming. But giving some mercenaries big money to get us to 30 wins is idiotic.

 

[flyerhawk]

Draft picks are only part of it. You have to sign the right free agents as well. There's a bit of a stench on Philly right now, not sure what quality of free agent is going to take their money (or if they're even done tanking).

I honestly think that was a big reason why they got rid of Hinkie. they had to clear the air for FAs.

 

[flyerhawk]

You're going to give a Max contract to a player that scores less than 12 points? That's not winning any championships. You can't win without scorers. Overpaying for non-scorers and trying to trade away the only scorer on the team doesn't add up to winning championships.

First off they have to spend 40 million just to get to the salary floor. Secondly, they need to show a committment to winning. Barnes is a good player to have on the team. Get a legit shooting guard and point guard and you might have a legit chance to do something.

Keep hoping that you can draft a championship team and you can expect a lot of disappointment.

 

[Heatles84]

First off they have to spend 40 million just to get to the salary floor. Secondly, they need to show a committment to winning. Barnes is a good player to have on the team. Get a legit shooting guard and point guard and you might have a legit chance to do something.

Keep hoping that you can draft a championship team and you can expect a lot of disappointment.

I agree with this. At some point you have to show growth to outside free agents. This happened with the Thunder from a 3-year time frame when they drafted - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Harden.

The Warriors also built up there team from 2009-2012 drafting Curry, Thompson, Barnes, and Green. That group, coupled with some timely free agent additions produced a perfect storm that nearly netted them two titles.

The 76ers are at a point where some of their high draft picks are about to get off of their rookie deals and are likely to head elsewhere if they don't start winning and showing a direction. You're not going to go from the lottery straight to a title - unless you have Lebron James on your team - which isn't happening.

 

[flyerhawk]

I agree with this. At some point you have to show growth to outside free agents. This happened with the Thunder from a 3-year time frame when they drafted - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Harden.

The Warriors also built up there team from 2009-2012 drafting Curry, Thompson, Barnes, and Green. That group, coupled with some timely free agent additions produced a perfect storm that nearly netted them two titles.

The 76ers are at a point where some of their high draft picks are about to get off of their rookie deals and are likely to head elsewhere if they don't start winning and showing a direction. You're not going to go from the lottery straight to a title - unless you have Lebron James on your team - which isn't happening.

Yup. Look at the Pelicans. One of the best young players in the league is wasting away. They can't get anything else to build the team.

Furthermore if you look at the teams that hit it big it is because they have a complement of young studs. They didn't compete for minutes.

The Sixers need to make a bold move and get some talent in here via trade and/or FA and make their move.

 

[shopson67]

I honestly think that was a big reason why they got rid of Hinkie. they had to clear the air for FAs.

You have to get to the salary floor.

 

[flyerhawk]

You have to get to the salary floor.

Yeah but there are good and bad ways to do that.

 

[lakersrule]

You have to get to the salary floor.

You don't have to. If you don't, you just have to pay out the difference to the players on the roster. I have a feeling that there'll be some teams in that situation at the end of the season.

 

[tlance]

Yup. Look at the Pelicans. One of the best young players in the league is wasting away. They can't get anything else to build the team.

Furthermore if you look at the teams that hit it big it is because they have a complement of young studs. They didn't compete for minutes.

The Sixers need to make a bold move and get some talent in here via trade and/or FA and make their move.

The Pelicans have made some awful moves though. They overpaid for an injured, but good Holliday and assembled a team of sticky guards that don't move the ball or shoot that well. They had the assets, but exucuted very poorly. I hated the Holliday trade and the Evans signing.

Also, they got unlucky with Gordon always being hurt.

 

[flyerhawk]

The Pelicans have made some awful moves though. They overpaid for an injured, but good Holliday and assembled a team of sticky guards that don't move the ball or shoot that well. They had the assets, but exucuted very poorly. I hated the Holliday trade and the Evans signing.

Also, they got unlucky with Gordon always being hurt.

Yeah they made some bad moves and had some bad luck. But it just goes to show that building a great team is about more than drafting well. Unless you get super lucky and hit on every high pick like the Warriors did, although it should be noted that the Warriors have had a LOT of lottery picks in their history and they usually flopped.

 

[shopson67]

You don't have to. If you don't, you just have to pay out the difference to the players on the roster. I have a feeling that there'll be some teams in that situation at the end of the season.

Not exactly the way to endear yourself to future free agents however.

 

[lakersrule]

Not exactly the way to endear yourself to future free agents however.

Maybe, but if you are tying up future cap space on big contracts for lesser players just to reach the floor, you might not be in position to sign future ones.

 

[shopson67]

Floor is $84.6M, and next season's cap is expected to be $111M. That still ensures you about $26M in cap space that they STILL won't be able to draw anyone with if they don't have any draws on the roster to entice anyone.

 

[lakersrule]

Floor is $84.6M, and next season's cap is expected to be $111M. That still ensures you about $26M in cap space that they STILL won't be able to draw anyone with if they don't have any draws on the roster to entice anyone.

Overpaid average players aren't necessarily a draw though. With the way this summer is going, if I'm the Lakers, I would certainly want more than $26mil in cap space available next summer.

 

[tlance]

Yeah they made some bad moves and had some bad luck. But it just goes to show that building a great team is about more than drafting well. Unless you get super lucky and hit on every high pick like the Warriors did, although it should be noted that the Warriors have had a LOT of lottery picks in their history and they usually flopped.

No doubt about that, but for 85% of the teams out there, they have to at least start with the draft. You either need to have an attractive destination like Miami, New York, LA, or you need a strong foundation of talent if your team is going to attract quality free agents. For most, that starts in the draft.