Sixers Rebuild Would Not Be Affected By Potential League Expansion
With the league looking towards potentially expanding and adding two more teams, the Sixers seem to be solidified enough to not be affected.
The Sixers have been on a roll this past month, thanks in no small part to the play of Joel Embiid. Embiid looks like the fortified biggest piece to this rebuilding puzzle, and with Ben Simmons returning and the potential for two top ten picks in a loaded 2017 NBA Draft. Philadelphia has themselves established building blocks, which is why almost nothing can get in their way.
Not even potential league expansion. The league could be looking into expanding to 32 teams, according to a report by Adam Joseph and Keith P. Smith of 16WinsARing.com The report states that the Seattle is a “lock” for an expansion slot, while the other could be between Mexico City, Vancouver, Louisville, and Las Vegas. This would be a huge shakeup to the entire league if true.
The expansion wouldn’t happen until the 2018-19 or 2019-2020 seasons, say Joseph and Smith. They also state that the expansion could potentially move the Memphis Grizzlies to the Eastern Conference. Although the Grizzlies are currently a Western Conference powerhouse, the Sixers’ timeline does not push worry to Philadelphia.
More from Philadelphia 76ers
- 3 Reasons the 76ers Should Poach Blake Griffin From the Celtics
- 3 Most Overpaid 76ers Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Ranking Daryl Morey’s 3 Biggest Mistakes with 76ers
- 3 Teams Crazy Enough to Trade for James Harden
- James Harden Putting Career in Jeopardy With Holdout Threat
The Grizzlies are clearly on the tail-end of their core’s peak. With Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph all going to be in their 30s by the time expansion comes around, the team’s window for dominance is shutting quickly. It will bring another big man in Gasol for Embiid to square off against, but otherwise there will be little change.
The only real affect on the Sixers will be the expansion draft, that affects the entire league. In the past expansion draft in 2004, teams were allowed to protect eight players from the expansion draft. So the Sixers would be forced to choose from eight players on their roster. It wouldn’t be difficult considering the team’s main pieces are the only that should be protected.
The league is changing, but the Sixers will just push on. That’s a marker of stability thanks to a core that is shooting towards the top of promising groups of young prospects. Joel Embiid and company may have new competition in the East, and competitive balance may be more apparent.
The Sixers, with the Grizzlies in their way or not, will continue to show promise through the next few seasons. The league expanding won’t change that one bit.