Sixers vs. Wolves, Who Has The Highest Ceiling?
As the Sixers and Timberwolves square off for the second time, we ask who has the highest potential.
The debate of who holds the most promising team has gone on since the start of serious rebuilds came a long a few seasons ago. The Sixers were revolutionizing the idea of tanking by embracing it, while the Timberwolves were building by breaking down in a more accepted way. The Sixers were criticized while the Timberwolves were placed as the next great team.
The Timberwolves were able to hold on to Kevin Love long enough to trade him for top pick Andrew Wiggins, while selecting Zach LaVine in the same draft. With a fairly young Ricky Rubio still manning the point guard position, the Wolves had a pretty bright future.
When they ended up landing the top spot in the 2015 draft, Karl-Anthony Towns and the bright Timberwolves were ready to make to seemingly take over the world.
After a historic rookie season from Towns, Minnesota picked up Kris Dunn, who was a top three prospect in the eyes of many experts, in the 2016 NBA Draft. Many were placing them as the next team to make the leap from bottom feeder to playoff team.
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But alas, Minnesota has been underwhelming under new head coach Tom Thibodeau due to unfair expectations. With a still-developing young core, the Timberwolves have failed to hold leads through an entire game, seeing late game collapses.
It’s a trend that has followed the Sixers this year as well. What has put the Sixers in a positive light however, is the astounding play by rookie Joel Embiid. Embiid is combatting Towns for the future best center of the league, as the two are currently at the focal point of their teams.
The two centers stand at the forefront of their team’s promise, but the surrounding young players and the future assets are what will break the deadlock in promise Embiid and Towns seem to have.
The Sixers have an obvious issue in dealing with Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, but you take them both away and there are still foundations of a promising team. Outside of Embiid, top rookie Ben Simmons has yet to make his season debut.
Simmons is looked at as second in line, though he himself has the ability to be a franchise-changer. The Sixers can complete their dominance in promise by securing the top pick in this year’s draft and selecting Markelle Fultz. They also have a second potential top 10 pick if the Lakers’ pick falls outside of the top three.
Minnesota has to answer a Dunn versus Rubio debate soon, but it isn’t an immediate issue. Andrew Wiggins must find consistency if he wants to become the league’s next star, as he was once touted. LaVine has seen development in weaknesses since his draft day, and looks to be a promising off guard.
Kris Dunn has struggled to make an immediate impact, but is far from a lost cause. The Timberwolves are set to land a top 10 pick barring a second half run.
Philadelphia and Minnesota sit at two different stages of their respective rebuilds. As it stands today, Minnesota has more promise, only because there’s more substantiated evidence that their young core can put up big numbers.
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Give the Sixers a healthy Simmons and do the 2017 NBA Draft tonight, it’s hard to argue they won’t be a top three Eastern Conference team when their young core develops and gels. So, for now, we’ll say Minnesota.