In the second edition of this series, the Philadelphia 76ers are up for fixing. Luckily, the NBA is the easiest among all sports to turn it around. All you need in the NBA is a superstar, then you are relevant. Seems simple doesn’t it? But, as mentioned before, the 76ers are in NBA purgatory. In order to win in the NBA, you need to tank, trade for a superstar, or get lucky in the draft. The 76ers thought they had one in Andrew Bynum, but his knees were not close to being NBA-ready. In order for the 76ers to be good, they need to be really bad, or they need to get lucky.
To fix the 76ers in the short-term, they need an upper echelon superstar this summer. The chances of that happening are slim, and we as 76ers fans automatically have the assumption that we will sign or trade for the wrong player. New GM Sam Hinkie has a history of acquiring good talent, so let us hope he is still going down that path. Free agents this summer include Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Monta Ellis, Manu Ginobili, Al Jefferson, and Paul Millsap. In order for the 76ers to be good next year, they will need two of these players. Chances are that will not happen, but that, along with a trade, is the ONLY way the 76ers can be a top team in the NBA next year. They need a superstar.
To fix the 76ers in the long-term is much more grueling, but may be more rewarding. The 76ers will need to lose 55 or more games to get the top pick in the next few years, but with next year’s pick going to the Heat, and having a budding star in Jrue Holiday, losing that many games is highly unlikely. For the 76ers to be like the Bulls, Heat, or even the Pacers, they will need to get lucky in the draft or hope Evan Turner somehow turns into a star in one offseason. This year, the 76ers select 11th overall in the NBA draft, some say they should trade up to get Trey Burke, others say they need to trade up to get Nerlens Noel. In reality, they just need to get lucky. That is tough to swallow as a fan, knowing the only way toward relevancy again is via luck.
Let’s hope Sam Hinkie can be a miracle worker and end up with a super-team. Otherwise the 76ers will continue to be in NBA Purgatory.
The post Short Term Fix, Long Term Fix: 76ers Edition appeared first on The High Phive.
