Are the Sixers set to show different philosophy this year?
The Sixers are on the verge of a breakout season, how quickly will they turn to a “win-now” ideology?
The Sixers have been apart of the most debated rebuild in NBA history. One that relied on lottery balls and draft luck, the process took the league’s most prevalent loophole and exposed it to it’s fullest. The jury is still out on the result of the rebuild, but thus far it’s hard not to call it a success as it stands now.
The rebuild brought Philadelphia Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and the assets that led to the Markelle Fultz trade. It also has now allowed for the attraction of solidified vets to come to the Sixers. The J.J. Redick signing was a critical signal that the organization is moving forward, and has the clout to do so.
The Sixers are a projected playoff team, and even though they are years away from reaching their maximum potential, could the team be looking to make a mid-season move to push them forward? It would be pretty premature to do so, considering the reign of Golden State in the West and elite teams like Cleveland and Boston.
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But the philosophy of the Sixers may be one that just looks to better themselves as a roster. Even if this doesn’t put them over the top of those other elite teams (which there is no realistic move that will do so), the trade deadline may be a buyer’s market for Philadelphia.
What does Philadelphia have left to offer? They cashed in their biggest chips to make the move for Fultz, placing protections on high valued assets like the 2018 Los Angeles Lakers pick, or the 2019 Sacramento Kings picks. But even if they “devalued” their share of those assets, they still do obtain their own picks.
A mid first-round pick isn’t the hottest asset on the table, but tradable role players could bring in some decent pieces. Robert Covington will stand as the best asset to be traded, considering the Sixers are trying to keep together their young core.
But trading Covington most likely won’t bring in a more useful piece for this team in both the short and long-term. Unless the Sixers can’t come to an extension agreement, Covington will most likely get his $13 million and stay as a critical piece to keep this young core together. And in the unlikely event the extension agreement never comes, then the Sixers are sitting on an extremely devalued asset.
Maybe they try to ship Covington in a package for another starting caliber wing, or try to pick up some inexpensive assets and roll with an imperfect wing combination involving Simmons and Dario Saric.
But in the end, the Sixers should stay put with the team they have heading into the season. Max cap space will be available with some crucial names in free agency looking to make a big move.
There is value to owners in bettering the roster now, even if it just gets them by the first-round of the playoffs. But I don’t envision ownership investing years into a risky rebuild just to hinder it for one more playoff series.
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The market will change dramatically from now to February, but as it stands there are no attainable pieces that betters the Sixers in a way that allows them to challenge the league’s elites for years to come.