[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Well, I haven’t seen Philly actually play this year, but they are on my short list of teams I want to see live and in person.  Love the old school upside of Jahlil Okafor.  I wanna see what the young kid can do against Marc Gasol and Z Bo.  Nerlens Noel has a mind bending skill set, and if these two guys can mesh then look out…

I think in today’s NBA or any day’s NBA, who you are, your identity, is tied to your top 3 guys.  To me, the Sixers have TWO of those guys right now: Okafor and Noel.  You implement a system around those two.  You build the roster around those two.  You even build a front office culture around those two.

Who is their 3rd guy?

I don’t think they have one yet.

To me, their 3rd guy will be their 2016 lotto pick.  Or, at least that is how I would approach it.  Don’t overthink it and think that right now you have TWO of your guys.  Work that out, THEN look to the draft.

THEN you take the best wing player on the board.  Heck, even if Skal is the best guy on the board — YOU TAKE SKAL!  Let the team figure it out.  Bring Skal off the bench at the 4 and 5, and play him a few minutes at the 3 with Noel and Okafor inside.

So, get your THIRD GUY to fill out the Sixers Big Three in the DRAFT.  

A two or a three — doesn’t matter.  Get the best wing player left in the draft.  Then figure out a way to fit him in. 

So, then you have your Big Three.  Then figure out a way to work around that…

Your starting five NOW looks like it is TJ McConnell, Stauskas, Robert Covington, Noel, and Okafor.  I actually really, really like that (at least on paper).  McConnell, to me, after watching a bit of him in college, is an excellent floor general and leader, a pass first guy who can also put a few points on the board.  Yeah, he is YOUR GUY at point guard, well, until the next Magic Johnson to come along.

McConnell is a Moneyball guy since he doesn’t look like a guy you have to max out.  Nor is he a big time scorer that can put up gaudy points totals.

BUT, he can probably be a guy who can get the ball to Okafor where he likes it.  He can get the role players going.

START HIM.  He’s not part of your Big Three, and not even a Part of a Hypothetical Core Four, but he IS a long term rotation guy, and ideally the starter.

You gotta pay Okafor, Noel, and then your 2016 top pick.  That is about as many max guys as you can pay, then you still gottta look after Embiid (7 footers who can theoretically walk command decent money) and even Tony Wroten.

On the wing, it looks like Stauskas and Covington will be solid.  They are both young and can shoot.  I liked Nik in college.  KEEP THOSE GUYS.  At least one will be a long-term starter (until you draft your Ben Simmons or whoever).  Then, the other guy goes to the bench as part of your 8/9 man rotation.

Bread and butter: Posting up Okafor.  Running pick and rolls with McConnell and Nerlens Noel.  So you NEED Covington and Stauskas to spot up and space the floor.

I really like Tony Wroten as the 6th man.  I think he is too limited to be a full time starter since his turnovers are sky high and his shooting percentages are through the floor.  BUT, he can slash and get to the line.  He can create his own offense AND pass.  He is also a BIG point guard who you can also play some at the 2.  GREAT 6th man candidate.  He also gives you a different look at the point guard spot than McConnell.  

Off the bench you also have Embiid when/if he ever gets healthy.  Your first go-to option off the bench then is the Wroten/Embiid pick and roll.  Then you have either Covington or Stauskas as your deep threat third option.  Then you have Saric as your glorified utility guy at the 4.  Saric may not need 3 point range, but just enough range to not clog the middle.  Help space the floor some, move the ball, and help out Embiid on the boards, and Saric will definitely help the second unit.

Ok, that is pretty much your team.

Draft Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown or the other best wing player on the board.  You then have your Big Three: Okafor as the alpha go-to option on the blocks, Nerlens Noel, the human stat sheet stuffer, then the one-and-done wing prodigy.

You fill out a lot of other spots with Moneyball guys.  The pass-first, lunchpail lead guard in McConnell, the 3 and D small forward in Covington, and your rotational shooter/scorer at the other wing spot in Stauskas.  Wroten is your game changing 6th man.  Embiid is your top shelf backup center and your third string big.  Saric is your fourth big and a POSSIBLE option at the 3.  

That’s all you need.  Nine guys.  Okafor, Embiid, 2016 lotto pick (starting small forward), McConnell (starting point guard), Stauskas (starting shooting guard), Wroten (combo guard 6th man), Embiid (backup big), Saric (utility forward), and Robert Covington (3 and D small forward either off the bench or starting).  A few of those guys will make BIG MONEY down the road, but the rest of that supporting cast should be your typical MLE type guys, OR guys who make typical 4th/5th option type money.  The rest of the roster, you get a veteran’s minimum guy here and there, then stock with 1st rounders, 2nd rounders, and D Leaguer types.

With the other 2016 first round picks, you go after guys who fill a NEED that are within the highest draft tier that is still on the board.  That would basically be a 3 and D shooting guard, and an athletic stretch four.  With the second round picks, what you do is get cheap guys to fill out the roster.  Get a third string point guard and a third string center.  Don’t need to do everything.  A third string point guard has to be able to dribble and chew gum at the same time.  A third string center has to chew gum and NOT dribble — just stand there, foul, protect the rim, and box out.

You can also look into trading two of the younger guys down the roster for ONE veteran who fills a need (3 and D shooting guard or a stretch four) and a future 2nd round pick.  So guys like Quincy Pondexter or Dante Cunningham (from the Pelicans) make sense if you don’t have to give up too much.  Either one can really help the back end of a bench…

I think if the Sixers think this way, then they can really build something nice.  They have two guys already, and are essentially looking for the third one in the 2016 draft.  Then you have some other guys who can really help their rotation long-term.

If they are looking to wheel and deal at all, then Saric is probably the guy at the top of the list.  I think Embiid is going to be their 3rd big man.  Then if they are fortunate enough to draft Ben Simmons then Simmons becomes their play making small forward with size.  Maybe they can package Saric, a younger guy on the roster, and one of their other first round picks to move up in the draft to take the best shooting guard in the draft.  Domatas Sabonis would also come into play in the 5-20 range in the draft as a guy who would help make Saric expendable and a guy who becomes a hedge against Joel Embiid’s long term health/future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

i’ll entertain.  

actually i’ll ignore.  I can’t read something that long, you have to be more coherent and cohesive.

If they do somehow end up with Skal (who looks amazing), I would trade Noel for a missing Piece.

I’ll keep Skal, Oak, Embiid, and Saric and trade Noel for something of Equal value.  

This year’s draft is looking very good to address their needs.

Unfortuntaely, the Lakers suck, so its not looking good for us.

I will be happy with any of Simmons, Skal, Bender, and Ingram.  And yes, we’ll definitely have one of them.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

i’ll entertain.  

actually i’ll ignore.  I can’t read something that long, you have to be more coherent and cohesive.

If they do somehow end up with Skal (who looks amazing), I would trade Noel for a missing Piece.

I’ll keep Skal, Oak, Embiid, and Saric and trade Noel for something of Equal value.  

This year’s draft is looking very good to address their needs.

Unfortuntaely, the Lakers suck, so its not looking good for us.

I will be happy with any of Simmons, Skal, Bender, and Ingram.  And yes, we’ll definitely have one of them.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[220Participant]

 The Knicks sucked last year and had the second worst record yet ended up with the 4th pick. The lottery makes things interesting especially since statistically speaking the worst team rarely wins the lottery.

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

we’re the "laughing stock" of the NBA, the Sixers are.  No chance we finish worse than 2nd this year.  Virtually guaranteed a top 5 pick, I think it’ll be top 4, I’d put serious money on that.   

[220Participant]

 I should have said I was referencing the Lakers in my prior post. I was just saying the 76ers have a good shot of getting the Lakers pick even if the Lakers have one of the three worst records.

[220Participant]

 I should have said I was referencing the Lakers in my prior post. I was just saying the 76ers have a good shot of getting the Lakers pick even if the Lakers have one of the three worst records.

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

we’re the "laughing stock" of the NBA, the Sixers are.  No chance we finish worse than 2nd this year.  Virtually guaranteed a top 5 pick, I think it’ll be top 4, I’d put serious money on that.   

[220Participant]

 The Knicks sucked last year and had the second worst record yet ended up with the 4th pick. The lottery makes things interesting especially since statistically speaking the worst team rarely wins the lottery.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Well, I gave a breakdown of what they should do, position by position.

Yeah, I think Saric might be a tradeable asset, and Embiid might be one, too.  

I think Noel is a keeper as a perennial DPOY candidate.  

So, you can read a dry, long Zach Lowe story on the former Grantland site, but you can’t read my stuff?  haha.  It’s basically a cliff’s notes version of a Lowe or Bill Simmon’s rant…

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Well, I gave a breakdown of what they should do, position by position.

Yeah, I think Saric might be a tradeable asset, and Embiid might be one, too.  

I think Noel is a keeper as a perennial DPOY candidate.  

So, you can read a dry, long Zach Lowe story on the former Grantland site, but you can’t read my stuff?  haha.  It’s basically a cliff’s notes version of a Lowe or Bill Simmon’s rant…

 

 

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 I actually watched Phila play parts of all 4 games & their team ran so much better w/ McConnel running the point… Noel & Okafor have torn up the front courts I have watched them against – at 19 & 21 years old, they are wrecking NBA vets… I was really looking forward to seeing Embiid who is the same size as Rudy Gobert  (7’2”) plus has an Offensive game (that’s hard to even imagine)….

 SO I think Phila is set… I do think they will get L.A.’s pick this June, only b/c L.A. got very lucky last year moving up to #2 – so if they have the 3rd worst record, only 1 team has to jump them & Phila gets that pick… I’m starting to believe that Phila is going to end up w/ Ben Simmons & Jammal Murray & then they have TWO more first round picks further down – that’s INSANE! 

They have 5 Lottery picks on the roster right now – Noel, Stauskus, Saric, Embiid & Okafor – & they’ll add two more Lottery picks plus 2 late first rounders at next June’s Draft…. So theoretically they could have SIX 1st round picks (4 lottery) on their Summer League team if Saric & Embiid are ready to go…. 

This BLOWS my mind! Especially when you consider that they started their Rebuild just 2+ years ago & they had NOTHING of value to trade including the loss of their 2015 & 2017 first round picks! They not only have 4 first round picks in 2016 but they have Two first round picks in Each of the two years after 2017 & 2018… & they are SO far under the cap they can sign just about all of these guys & have them All under control for a few years….

I don’t think I have Ever seen anything like this….

 

 

 

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 I actually watched Phila play parts of all 4 games & their team ran so much better w/ McConnel running the point… Noel & Okafor have torn up the front courts I have watched them against – at 19 & 21 years old, they are wrecking NBA vets… I was really looking forward to seeing Embiid who is the same size as Rudy Gobert  (7’2”) plus has an Offensive game (that’s hard to even imagine)….

 SO I think Phila is set… I do think they will get L.A.’s pick this June, only b/c L.A. got very lucky last year moving up to #2 – so if they have the 3rd worst record, only 1 team has to jump them & Phila gets that pick… I’m starting to believe that Phila is going to end up w/ Ben Simmons & Jammal Murray & then they have TWO more first round picks further down – that’s INSANE! 

They have 5 Lottery picks on the roster right now – Noel, Stauskus, Saric, Embiid & Okafor – & they’ll add two more Lottery picks plus 2 late first rounders at next June’s Draft…. So theoretically they could have SIX 1st round picks (4 lottery) on their Summer League team if Saric & Embiid are ready to go…. 

This BLOWS my mind! Especially when you consider that they started their Rebuild just 2+ years ago & they had NOTHING of value to trade including the loss of their 2015 & 2017 first round picks! They not only have 4 first round picks in 2016 but they have Two first round picks in Each of the two years after 2017 & 2018… & they are SO far under the cap they can sign just about all of these guys & have them All under control for a few years….

I don’t think I have Ever seen anything like this….

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 It looks like Philly is set at center and is ok at point guard (especially if they use Wroten as their backup point guard), so they are looking at the 2-4 spots, with their current twin towers approach taking care of the 4.  Then you get the wing upgrades.  Not sure if Philly needs to focus on wings who can score and slash, or wings who can shoot.

Looks like Philly scouts will be busy during college basketball season.  

Ideally they draft a couple of wings who can complement each other.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 It looks like Philly is set at center and is ok at point guard (especially if they use Wroten as their backup point guard), so they are looking at the 2-4 spots, with their current twin towers approach taking care of the 4.  Then you get the wing upgrades.  Not sure if Philly needs to focus on wings who can score and slash, or wings who can shoot.

Looks like Philly scouts will be busy during college basketball season.  

Ideally they draft a couple of wings who can complement each other.  

[markfitz14Participant]

I think your blueprint works well. If I was the GM as soon as Embid was healty I would trade him just to get him away from Oakafor and Noel. I think that would create a logjam at the position of elite talent. 3 players all with huge potential that want the ball and touches. Judging by some of the stuff Embid has done I don’t think he would like not get a full opportunity to be a star. He would create some bad blood in the franchise I wouldn’t want to sour Oakafor and Noel with anything like that. Maybe play him next year for half a year to show he is healty then trade him. Could get a PG or veteran players to help the current guys.

 Not to mention the other picks they already have as well. That will offset trading Embid. I just don’t see how those 3 guys would work together.

 

 I would say Oak, Noel and Simmons or Ingram or whatever top pick they get this year. Thats the 3 to build around. Then start to try to win and fill in any holes with veterans or some other solid pieces.

[markfitz14Participant]

I think your blueprint works well. If I was the GM as soon as Embid was healty I would trade him just to get him away from Oakafor and Noel. I think that would create a logjam at the position of elite talent. 3 players all with huge potential that want the ball and touches. Judging by some of the stuff Embid has done I don’t think he would like not get a full opportunity to be a star. He would create some bad blood in the franchise I wouldn’t want to sour Oakafor and Noel with anything like that. Maybe play him next year for half a year to show he is healty then trade him. Could get a PG or veteran players to help the current guys.

 Not to mention the other picks they already have as well. That will offset trading Embid. I just don’t see how those 3 guys would work together.

 

 I would say Oak, Noel and Simmons or Ingram or whatever top pick they get this year. Thats the 3 to build around. Then start to try to win and fill in any holes with veterans or some other solid pieces.

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