Philadelphia 76ers look to follow in the footsteps of the Golden State Warriors

The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t too different from where the Golden State Warriors were heading into the 2012/13 season.

The Dubs were coming off of four straight losing seasons but there was optimism in the Bay Area that they were building a core that would do great things. It all began with the pick of the Baby faced assassin, Stephen Curry in 2009. He couldn’t do it alone though and in 2011, the splash brothers were born with the Warriors drafting Klay Thompson in the first round. This still led to another losing season because while the offense was electric, the defense left much to be desired for the Dubs.

Then 2012 happened. In what is a mix of good scouting and a little bit of luck the Warriors were able to add Harrison Barnes in the first round and Draymond Green in the second round. After that draft, the core was born.

They followed it up by making the playoffs in the 2012/13 season and they haven’t looked back since. While the addition of Kevin Durant helped make the Warriors unquestionably the best team on the planet, it was good drafting and roster management that put them in a position to be able to make that move.

Losing is tough to watch but in some cases, it does pay off in the end.

This brings us to the current state of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have had lower lows than the Warriors thanks to Sam Hinkie bottoming out for the sake of “The Process” but the goal is the same. Build a team through the draft that with the right free agent additions can compete for an NBA Title. So simple right?

While the rise of the Warriors may have also coincided with the fall of the Philadelphia 76ers, things can begin to even out a bit now. Many of the setbacks for the Philadelphia 76ers have been injury related but if Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are healthy, playoff basketball can return to Philadelphia for the first time in six seasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers have built their core via the draft with Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid. That core will be augmented this offseason with another high lottery pick along with a multitude of second round selections.

Dynasties aren’t built alone, however

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Just as important to the success of the Philadelphia 76ers is the role players that they surround their core with. Looking at the Warriors, having guys like JaVale McGee and Andre Iguodala made a difference. The Philadelphia 76ers are building that too with guys like T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington.

They will be just as important to a Sixers playoff run as Ben Simmons because the best teams and dynasties run as a cohesive unit. More importantly, the Philadelphia 76ers will have the cap space to pursue veterans that fit their plan while also re-signing their own guys.

It will take a playoff run or two to make Philadelphia an attractive destination for free agents but basketball culture runs deep in this city. That culture and the fans will quickly make Philly the place to be for free agents with a few winning seasons.

This cap space along with the future assets that the Philadelphia 76ers have should be enough to make creative additions to the team. If the front office would like to grab a proven star to add to the young core, it can be done. If they’d rather build through the draft, that can also be done with high draft picks on the horizon in the next few years.

Once success hits Philadelphia, it should be sustainable and something that can be built on. While this team does have a low floor, the ceiling is almost limitless. This isn’t to say that the Sixers will be able to experience the same dominance that the Warriors are on the cusp of but it isn’t too hard to see this team competing in the Eastern Conference each year.

Next: PJ Dozier a nice fit next to Ben Simmons

The future is bright for the Philadelphia 76ers, we just had to suffer through the darkness to get there. “The Process” is over, it’s time to build a winning culture in Philadelphia. That time is now!