Philadelphia Sports: Eagles And 76ers Face Important Drafts
Philadelphia sports is in a state of flux, but the Eagles and the 76ers are set to change course with important drafts looming ahead.
The Philadelphia sports complex had a different feel a decade ago. In 2008, all four major sports teams made the playoffs and the Philadelphia Phillies won the city’s first championship since the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers. Fast forward less than a decade later, all four teams may miss their respective playoffs.
The Philadelphia Phillies are set to start their rebuild, the Flyers are hanging on to the last wild card spot, the 76ers are looking to avoid matching their own worst season record, and the Eagles are trying to get over the Chip Kelly hangover.
Philadelphia sports have been weakened, but not broken. Two teams, the 76ers and the Eagles, are set to face an important draft in the near future. The 2016 NBA Draft could give the Philadelphia 76ers four first-round draft picks, and the team has the best chance of landing the first overall picks.
The Philadelphia 76ers will have to start drafting players that will piece together this young team, instead of swinging for the fences on guys that have the potential to be superstars, no matter the position. Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, and Nerlens Noel are the teams’ top talent, and all clog the frontcourt. It’s time for the Sixers to start building around one, two, or even all three of these guys and draft players that could hypothetically compliment them.
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With the potential to draft versatile potential superstar Ben Simmons, or versatile shooter Brandon Ingram at one of the top 2 picks, the Philadelphia 76ers seem to be in good standing come this June. Where they must nail their picks is the late first-round. The Sixers could hold the Miami Heat (lottery protected) and the OKC Thunder picks (lottery protected), where they should be looking into drafting the best available guard or shooter. The Philadelphia 76ers have the assets to build a playoff team, but it must start to form this coming draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles have started their roster recovery after Chip Kelly dismantled the playoff-caliber team the last two offseasons. The Eagles and new head coach Doug Pederson have bolstered the depths of the secondary, the offensive line, and the wide-reciever positions, but they are still missing the playmakers necessary on either side of the ball to become competitive again.
With the eighth pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Eagles have the opportunity to find that playmaker. Philadelphia sports fans love charisma mixed with innate ability to score, which is why OSU running back Ezekiel Elliot‘s name is becoming beloved by the fans of Philadelphia sports. Elliot has the talent and would take away some sting from the loss of trading the franchise-best running back LeSean McCoy to sign DeMarco Murray, whom they would trade after just one season.
The Eagles also have the opportunity to find the impact player in the secondary they’ve been missing in Vernon Hargreaves III. Hargreaves could be the defensive back Philadelphia sports fans feel comfortable with when the ball is thrown in his direction.
The Eagles could see themselves having a quick turnaround with this upcoming draft as long as they draft with certainty.
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Philadelphia sports fans will be watching the way the Eagles and the 76ers draft these upcoming months, as it will be a precursor to how the team performs both in the near future and long-term. The fans of Philadelphia sports will be critical (as always), but supportive as long as both teams show direction through their respective draft selection.