[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

 Things are becoming real, Sixers are in turmoil due to their Bigman situation, but their key piece is yet to return.  Ben Simmons will solve a lot of the Sixers problems in his ability to penetrate, pass, and have a high IQ.  He will conduct the offense and majorly improve the defense.  I don’t think they’re a guaranteed bottom 2 pick, which is unfortunate.  I think when Simmons gets back Philly is as competitive as Orlando, Sacramento, Denver, LAL, Miami, NOP, Minnesota, Dallas, PHX, or Brooklyn.  That could possibly put them at 11, and who knows with the Lakers, they could either rise or fall.  The difference between the Sixers and teams like the Lakers and Sacramento is that they have veterans that know how to close out games, the rest of these teams do not.  

So this post could be pointless. But for the Philly fans, let’s assume it stays as is, and Philly gets 2 and the Lakers give them 8.

You have Simmons Embiid and like Ilyasova or Saric starting, maybe Oak or Noel if they stay, whatever, who cares.  Simmons and Embiid are your chesspieces, one a point forward and the other a bigman and you need role players. Your backcourt is obviously needing improvement, perimeter defense, handling, shooting, etc.  

So with 2 and 8, your options are:

You take Fultz and Tatum: Simmons and Embiid are your pieces.  Fultz gives you perimeter scoring and the ability to drive.  Tatum also gives your offense a boost.  Both guys have NBA moves, its obvious.  Fultz and Tatum are weak on defense but give you enough length with Simmons and the defending game changer Embiid.

or

You take Josh Jackson and either Ntilinka or Fox.  This would give you a GREAT defensive team with Ntilinka or Fox, Josh Jackson, Simmons, Embiid, and whoever else you want to throw in, put Noel or Holmes or TLC in for fun.  Offensively, Josh Jackson can get his own shot and would be able to use his athleticism beautifully catching Simmons passes.  Ntilinka is questionable shot and Fox is a terrrible shot.  That starting 5 or FrankN Jackson Simmons Embiid Ilyasova gives you very little outside shooting.  So you sacrifice offense for a potentially GREAT defensive team.

So who you taking?

Embiid, Simmons, Ilyasova/Saric, Tatum, Fultz…

or 

Embiid, Simmons, Ilyasova/Saric, Jackson, Fox/Ntilinka.

More than likely the Sixers will improve and can fall anywhere between 1 to 12 depending on Simmons impact.  This assumes 2 and 8, likely two of these options will be present.  If you have a better 2 players to play with our core at 2 and 8, list them and let me know.  

You might like Fultz and Monk, but that would be a bad defensive perimeter.

Or being that Simmons will play the point, you might like Simmons and Jackson controlling the ball with their high IQs, and Simmons finding Monk when needed.  So maybe Jackson and Monk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Anton123Participant]

No way the Sixers win enough games to fall out of the top 7. It is safe to say they’ll bring along Ben Simmons slowly, I don’t think they start winning games as soon as he comes back, he’ll be rusty and they’ll just have more chemistry issues.

By the time Simmons is productive and the team is clicking, they’ll have lost a terrible lot of games. Teams like Minnesota (experience), Denver (getting healthy) and New Orleans (getting healthy) will probably be much improved compared to what they are right now. The Lakers have no reason to go full-tank mode, will probably get back to form soon.

I can see them finishing with a better record than Phoenix, Brooklyn and Dallas. Perhaps a couple other teams, the Sixers want a top 5 pick and will get it.

[vulture711Participant]

 A serious upgrade at 2 & 3.  Henderson and Stauskas combine to give you a serviceable backup and Covington is probably better suited off the bench.  If Simmons is your full time point as Brown says then drafting a point guard is less of a priority.  They need to take the rest of the year to figure out how to best use Simmons once he plays.  Too many guys give you the same thing.  Could use some creative scorers who can take their man off the dribble – Covington, Thompson etc etc really are better as spot up players but when the shot clock is winding down can’t create a shot

[HitsterParticipant]

Until we see how well Simmons plays when he gets fit we are still 2nd guessing their needs, also will Simmons play full time as PG or be a Giannis type point forward who plays SF on defence and as a point forward on offence. If Simmons is effectively a point forward then Philly could draft a whole new back court to compliment Simmons, Embiid and one of the other front courters as starters.

Fultz would give them a go to scorer but does he need a lot of the ball I wonder given that Embiid will need his share of shots. At T-Wolves KAT and Wiggins work well statistically as off ball scorers although this has yet to bring results as much as it should.

Simmons needs time to develop as the facilitator and half a season or whatever he plays this year cannot be enough time to judge that. I would say that when Simmons plays an we assume Philly will do a phased return as they have with Embeast then they need to play Embeast and Simmons together as much as possible to give them time to gel. If both have to sit certain games then be it but get these two working in tandem as they will be the franchise Axis.

[WetalkinboutpracticeParticipant]

When Brett Brown says he plans on featuring Simmons at point guard I’m quite sure he doesn’t expect the 6’9 250 Aussie to go out there and check the Westbrooks & Currys of the world.

[binetParticipant]

True.

Though he insisted on him not being a "point forward", which pretty much rules out him being in a Giannis,Lebron,Odom,Boris Diaw role where he would lead the offense on occasions. Calling him the PG means he is going to lead the offense almost every possession, like any PG in this league.

There are confusions in what Point Forward means and since it’s not an actual position, pretty much any definition is legit. There seems to be a clear difference in Brett Brown’s mind though. That difference is imo: point forward: allowed to push the ball in transition when he gets the rebound, steal etc.., then run the offense, plus the occasional half court play designed through him as a primary ballhandler; point guard: the guy your team mates give the ball to when they get a rebound, steal etc…who calls the plays, who dictates the pace, run the offense on almost every plays in transition an the halfcourt, is your primary ballhandler and the guy through whom every offense goes by, the team leader/floor general. 

I am not saying these are by definition the difference between the two, like I said there is no lit definition of point forward really, but just what I feel Brown means by having Ben Simmons as his PG.

Who cares who he is guarding, Curry is not guarding Westbrook either.

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Ben Simmons is every bit tall and strong enough to do what he did in summer league, in the pros.  He’s too fast and too big.  

I saw some of his summer league highlights.  He’s a facilitator not a scorer.  I have no doubt he will be able to do what he did in summer league in the regular league.

Agree maybe not out of top 7, but theSixers are competitive now with teams like Orlando.

they are only 6 games away from Orlando who is 13th worst.  I agree that Simmons will slowly get worked back in, and it will be Februrary when he returns, APril 14th the season ends so we will have him for about 2.5 months out of 7 months and they will ease him in.  I can see them landing in the top 5, with the Lakers pick too.

But no Fultz Jackson or Ball outside the top 5.  Maybe you get Isaac (questionable body), or Tatum with 5 and a PG like Ntilinka or Fox….

so Isaac and Ntilinka/Fox

or Tatum and Ntilinka/Fox….

They’ll help us, but definitely would rather have Fultz or Jackson.  Hope it plays out in our favor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[EndlessknightParticipant]

I might be in the minority but I still don’t think Simmons will play this year. There’s simply to many reasons not to.

Remember when OKC rushed Durant back from the same injury? Why take that kind of risk just to play 20 games on meaningless basketball on minutes restriction? Let the guy heal up and work on his jump shot like Embiid did.

[markfitz14Participant]

I would base it on which pick they have to work with as to who I would pick later in the draft. If they get Fultz I would want a good defender to compliment the team better. If I got Jackson then I would want someone who can knock down threes to help compliment the team.

I would really try to trade the Lakers pick for a veteran that fit the team need. I think 4 Young guys is plenty to work around. Fultz/Jackson, Embid, Simmons, Oak is a great core to start with. I would get a guy who has been around for a while. A three and D guy that could really help them develop the first 2 or 3 years together. Then Refill that position once they are ready to compete for a playoff run.

  

[binetParticipant]

 Right now and probably until we get a real sense of what Simmons is going to be going forward the sixers should draft 2 scoring guys, and probably two guards. Their primary need is to have a go-to-scorer guard in both starting lineup and secondary lineup at the moment. It’s not like Stauskas is anywhere near good enough to be that guy.

If Simmons as a PG ends up a realistic experiment that probably shifts to one guard – one forward, or at least make the option possible.

If Simmons scores at a higher volume than expected then yes, one of the two should be more defensive minded, probably the first pick imo though (starting guy).

Some of the high profile prospects seem to be two-way or at least potential two-way players though, the best kind of prospects. (I personally have Ntilikina very high because I think he has real upside on both ends for example, way more offensive potential than Fox with already a solid jump shot, best defensive prospect given his size and versatility. Jackson is in everyone’s top 3 because of his 2way potential also). The sixers need one of those.

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Simmons might have an issue guarding small fast PGs but opposition would need to put someone else on him as a 6ft 2/3ins under 200lbs PG ain’t gonna be able to stop a guy Simmons size getting his shot off or slashing towards the basket.

Philly had Embeast sound in March/April 2015 but sat him when I thought he could have played. Season was winding down and he could have made a quiter debut. I can understand sitting guys but Paul George after his leg injury returned back end of that season and whilst he didn’t do much gamewise he got his feel for the game and his confidence back.

 

 

 

[holefillers1Participant]

Simmons still has yet to take the court.  Just shooting, or throwing lobs to his best buddies or whatever the reporter had to write about that day.   Based on how the Sixers have been rolling with these min. restrictions I would say on court drills in the next two weeks.  Then three weeks after that he might get 18 min.  I would not rush him back just to showcase Noel and Okafor.  Maybe even wait until the trade deadline.  That actually sounds like the Sixers M.O.  "Now we don’t have to trade any Bigs."-B.C.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Simmons will be under a strict minute limit when he returns and he’ll likely sit out some back to backs or two games in three days as Philly will want to evaluate how he recovers from games etc.

I could see him playing very limited minutes at first and building it up by a minute or so a game to get to first agreed limit then that being looked at. Embeast is now playing 27-28 mpg and has a season average of 24.5mpg so if Philly could get Ben to that number by the end of the season then they would be happy.

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 has w/ Lebron hadnling the point from a Point / 4 / PF position.

B/c of that & if they land the Lakers pick – personally I think Josh Jackson is the best fit for them b/c Embiid & Jackson on the same team Defensively would be Sick.

Originally I liked Monk for them w/ the Lakers pick & it’s still a possibility if they have say the 3rd & 6th picks. But b/c Simmons & Embiid will create So much space, I also like Fox, Ntilikina, Smith Jr, Ball or Fultz – they would All fit in the slot for Phila where they are essentially a 2/SG on Offense but will guard the opposing PG on Def.

It’s insane the Talent they will have just w/ Simmons & Embiid but the idea that a Josh Jackson can just lock down any opposing teams top player on the perimeter w/ Embiid protecting the Rim would look like what San Antonio did in 2014 where Kawhi & Duncan literally made Miami just quit. 

And the reason I like Jackson w/ Simmons & Embiid is b/c Jackson is a Freak in transition & w/ Simmons outlet passing Jackson can get his 12-15 ppg on the break. Jackson does not need the ball to be effective at the Offesnive end. And can you imagine Simmons, Embiid & Jackson on the glass. Good Lord.

 

 

 

 

[binetParticipant]

 Josh Jackson would fit arguably any team. A wing able to guard 1-4 with high IQ is always needed, even with his bad shot.

I still think the Ben Simmons as Magic 2.0 experiment is going to dictate how the sixers draft. Before we see a couple of games with him, it’s very hard to guess if they will need as many perimeter players. Whether he is labelled PG or "point forward", what we need is the answer to what is the best fit along him: multiple wings and Embiid, or Embiid, a stretch 4 and two wings/guards.

The Jahlil and/or Nerlens trade will also impact a lot. If both get traded for guards, expect them to pick a big man like Harry Giles with the Lakers pick.

 

 

[MatosParticipant]

 Josh Jackson is a must grab. If he’s on the board, grab him. As far as the second lottery pick, I would take Monk or Fox. Or if Tatum is still around, I would even go and grab him IF they are truely playing Simmons at the 1.

[binetParticipant]

 I am lower on Monk than most people but I think this kid is the pick to avoid in the lottery.

Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas were better college shooters than him and ended up huge bust.

He is nothing more than a shooter and does not create more than them.

His body is not better than theirs being less athletic than McLemore and so short.

I would not risk a top 20 pick for Monk in a loaded draft like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 A few people have mentioned the Sixers taking Harry Giles but would they risk yet another big with injury issues I wonder.

If they are going to use Simmons as a PG or a Point Forward then a 4 man big rotation is realistic. If we assume that Ersan moves on then Embest, Oak, Noel and Saric could in theory be the rotation but I think the consensus is that the 4 skillsets don’t match that well together despite all being different types of players so one has to go and it will be one of Oak or Noel.

Plus if Philly is looking for a good veteran then it would probably need to come from a rebuilding team as contenders like to keep hold of their proven guys unless they have cap issues.

I still keep coming back to the idea of Iggy returning home to Philly next summer, they can make him a nice offer and he is a bit of a legend in Philly. He has a title already and has a chance of another this season so may be prepared to accept a new challenge and returning "home" might appeal to him if he was prepared to leave the Californian sun. 

 

 

 

[binetParticipant]

Harry Giles is very plausible if the sixers lose both Okafor and Noel by the time they draft their second lottery choice with the Lakers pick.

Giles in theory could develop into an atheltic 4 and play both 4 and 5 for a 3 big rotation with Embiid, Saric. Holmes, whatever secound rounders etc..would be the reserve guys. 

I think the sixers are one oof the team the most ready to take him despite injury concerns. Giles still has a lot to prove, he definitely does not look good so far since he returned to action.

Imo, sixers ideal scenarii all go with trading both Okafor and Noel, with Okafor possibly delayed until a draft night trade for a pick or a move up the lottery.

If Noel end up dealt for a guard or wing, there is also less need of another perimeter player in the lottery, depending of how valuable the player you get is.

I think an Ilyasova trade is very realistic also, either packaged with one of the bigs or on his own, he showed interesting value as a stretch four and even with his expiring contract could be the difference maker that makes you get a fairish return for your bigs.

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I think that Noel is on his way out, he seems to be 5th choice big at Philly and as Embeast plays more then Noel’s minutes won’t increase. Philly could let him walk as I’d guess that both sides would be way apart on the terms of any extension and Philly may well prefer to keep Ersan instead of Noel as Ersan looks a better fit and brings more experience.

What they can get for Noel is now limited unless they were prepared to match any offer.

 

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