The Philadelphia 76ers have, for the past few years, made fans endure the crushing agony of a team designed to lose. Only 10 wins in a season really shows just how appalling the team was, but all fans should be glad about this heinous play.
The Sixers were pinned in something that maligns much of the NBA: mediocrity. Always hovering around .500, the Sixers never had a chance to win anything but a few playoff games. The goal is and always will be a championship, and for this reason, Sam Hinkie may have been the savior of this franchise. The talent and assets that we have acquired are astounding: Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, the first pick in the draft, the Lakers' future pick and the Kings' future pick and swap. We are finally on the brink of contention; we are finally nearing the promise land that mediocrity has so often prevented us from reaching. We just cannot mess this up. This summer is pivotal for the future of the franchise, and we must not abandon the process.
First thing's first: the Sixers must draft Ben Simmons. He is a generational athlete with the passing ability and uniqueness of a bonafide star. Brandon Ingram would be a horrible use of the first pick. Does anyone remember the last time we had the first pick? We picked Allen Iverson, a player who, while quite short in stature, was of incomparable speed and electricity. Iverson was generational and unique much like Simmons, who we must not pass up.
Secondly, we must build around our top pick. As delineated by our 10 win season, we do not yet have the talent to win a championship; however, we are not as far as many would think. If Embiid is healthy, he will be a force of unparalleled dominance in the paint. But that is a gargantuan "if." Therefore, the Sixers must build around Simmons or whoever they choose first, as none of the other current Sixers' players are of that caliber. So we come upon Ben Simmons greatest weakness— shooting. An inability to shoot is pretty normal for the Sixers these days, but that can be fixed. To properly utilize Simmons, we must acquire a shooting guard with a strong jumper and quick feet. This is because Simmons best fits as a point guard (anyone who thinks otherwise is blinded by his size and does not see his true skill). The perfect player to complement Simmons is Bradley Beal. Beal, a 22-year-old shooting guard, shot 39 percent from downtown last year while averaging 17 points per game. Clearly, to have any chance at him, the Sixers must offer the max as he is a restricted free agent.
Say the Sixers get Beal and are positive they will pick Simmons. What do they do then? Well, the best thing they could do, while unrealistic, would be to attempt to also acquire the second pick. This would entail Jahlil Okafor, the Lakers' pick next year, and both late first round picks. If accepted, we could take Ingram, who would fit perfectly with Simmons and Beal. Then, the starting lineup would be Ben Simmons at the point, Bradley Beal at shooting guard, Brandon Ingram at small forward, Nerlens Noel at power forward, and Joel Embiid at center. This lineup would be a nightmare for opposing teams offensively and defensively. Noel's pick and roll defense and unbelievable quickness for his size will more than fix any weaknesses Simmons has covering point guards, even though Simmons is fast and quick enough for most. Moreover, the lineup has shooting, passing, crazy athleticism and downright ridiculous height. The Sixers would rule the glass and the league with this lineup, but let's be honest about its lack of possibility. This is pretty far-fetched.
If the Sixers don't acquire Beal but can get the top two picks, then they should max DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan, 26, averaged 23.5 points per game. The caveat is that he is not a good shooter, so this would only work with the team chemistry-wise if we could get Ingram and Simmons.
If the Sixers can get Beal and Simmons but not Ingram, then the road is clear. They have too many big men; therefore, they must not make any rash decisions. Getting Kris Dunn for Jahlil is not worth it. Harrison Barnes is possibly the most overrated player in the league. They must be patient. The Sixers must only trade Okafor if they can find a solid offer that helps the team in the future, and they must keep Noel. Noel's defense will be vital to this team's future championships, and those who do not see his value are blinded by statistics and ludicrous highlights from which one can not actually extrapolate a player's worth. To expound, Noel actually can fill in nearly every defensive hole of his teammates while on the court. So this road is filled with another year of growth without gratifying success. However, with Simmons, Beal, Saric, Noel, Okafor and Embiid, the Sixers would be one player—a small forward—away from potential championships.
