Sixers Already Tanking For 2015 Draft

[RobToxin]

Sixers draft pick Joel Embiid (foot) to be sidelined 5-to-8 months - NBA - SI.com

 

[GNG]

The Sixers are a train wreck.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Sixers draft pick Joel Embiid (foot) to be sidelined 5-to-8 months - NBA - SI.com

That injury worries me a little....but he's got a great upside, being compared to Olajuwon. He even looks like him with his jumpshot and he's going to be a great defensive player.

 

[YourFriendGannon]

They were a treadmill team for almost 10 years. Once you strip a team so bare it's only logical for it to be a multi-year process. At worst I expect them to have the 6th or 7th pick next year.

 

[Heatles84]

They'll be one of the worse teams in the league next year. If Embiid does end up being healthy though and they get another top player next year, then who knows.

 

[tlance]

The Sixers are a train wreck.

They are actually in much better shape than most franchises. At least they have a plan. Embiid may not work out, but if he does they have a potential cornerstone player along with MCW, Noel, Saric and any other studs they pick up in future drafts.

There is no guarantee that any of this works, but I won't be shocked if Philly are perennial contenders by the end of decade.

 

[Bulletz]

I absolutely think they will tank this year. This team has a 3-4 year plan.

 

[tlance]

I absolutely think they will tank this year. This team has a 3-4 year plan.

I hate when people talk about this being tanking. This is not tanking. Tanking is losing games on purpose.

The Sixers are rebuilding. They are collecting as many future assets as they can get. Rebuilding teams often lose a lot, but that does not mean they are losing on purpose.

 

[Bulletz]

I hate when people talk about this being tanking. This is not tanking. Tanking is losing games on purpose.

The Sixers are rebuilding. They are collecting as many future assets as they can get. Rebuilding teams often lose a lot, but that does not mean they are losing on purpose.

I feel like not putting your best foot forward to win games now, in the hopes of sucking bad enough to acquire more draft picks is tanking.

 

[OregonDucks]

I hate when people talk about this being tanking. This is not tanking. Tanking is losing games on purpose.

The Sixers are rebuilding. They are collecting as many future assets as they can get. Rebuilding teams often lose a lot, but that does not mean they are losing on purpose.

when you put out talent on the floor knowing they cant beat majority of NBA teams. that is pretty much tanking. Sure your gameplan isn't to lose, but its like putting your JV team out there to play a varsity team. The outcome is rather obvious.

 

[tlance]

I feel like not putting your best foot forward to win games now, in the hopes of sucking bad enough to acquire more draft picks is tanking.

They are not hoping to suck terribly this year though.

They know whoever they took, they would not be very good this year, so their sights are set on who will be best for them in the future. Embiid is the best talent in the draft and Saric could have been a top 5 pick if he were playing next year. The fact that Embiid and Saric are not playing this year allowed the Sixers to get them both.

The result of all this is that the Sixers are going to suck terribly this year, but that is not their intent. They just understand that rebuilding takes time and they are not rushing the process. My bet is that the Sixers, and their fans will be rewarded down the road.

 

[JDM]

Trading for comparable but future value is not tanking.

Trading for significantly lesser value in hopes to raise your own draft stock is.

 

[tlance]

Until the NBA changes their system, there is no incentive for teams to get incrementally better. This is really the only way for small and mid market teams to build a championship core.

I just hate that people want to label what the Sixers are doing with such a negative term, when the truth is that their moves the last two seasons have actually been quite brilliant.

 

[OregonDucks]

Portland had to do it. But itwasnt nearly this bad.

 

[tlance]

Trading for comparable but future value is not tanking.

Trading for significantly lesser value in hopes to raise your own draft stock is.

I can agree with that. By that definition, what the Sixers are doing is clearly not tanking.

 

[JDM]

I'm not trying to claim they are. I'm just trying to point out the difference.

 

[tlance]

I'm not trying to claim they are. I'm just trying to point out the difference.

Fair enough.

 

[tlance]

Portland had to do it. But itwasnt nearly this bad.

In 5 years, we may be saying that Portland wasn't nearly this good.

Just saying.....

 

[trojanfan12]

It's front offices that tank. Players and coaches don't tank. They know that their careers depend on them winning games or at least trying to.

Front offices tank by, as OD pointed out, putting inferior talent on the court. Front offices sometimes do this as part of a re-build. As you point out, until the NBA changes it's system, that's going to be the best way to build their team.

 

[Malibu]

Alot of picks and some very young talent. Give it 3-4 years before calling them a train wreck. Grant in the 2nd round was a steal as well.