***Official*** NBA Draft Thread 2015

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

 

It's more prudent to build a good young core of players and then look to free agency to fill in a need to two, rather than be too dependent on free agents to build around as that will quickly deplete cap flexibility. Young players will be much cheaperer, so you can collect many more young players under the cap rather than signing over priced free agents. There is no rush to go out and find free agents this off season as the Sixers are still evaluating and developing and will add a flood of first round players next season. Free agency is getting weirder, as seeing Milwaukee outbid New York and LA for the services for a star, as past precedent is being discarded. If a player likes what you are doing and the team has a plan, they will go against the grain and join.

 

it's not going to take 5 more years to be relevant. Maybe one more season. We don't know how NBA ready the incoming rookies will be, but it will be a buttload of wings and guards that will targeted. The picture is coming into focus more each day. Hinkie said the rebuild will take 3 years, then it will be time to start to compete. This upcoming season is Year 3.

 

Sure, the cap is going up in the next year or two. It just looks ridiculous that backup players are getting 12 million a year.

 

with noel, embiid and supposedly saric in the fold, shouldnt the plan have been to target some guards and athletic wings THIS year? I know the sixers really wanted Russell, despite the sugar coating but they now have a glut of big men and unless they jettison both Landry AND Thompson, that deal where they added a first round pick to take on salary will only hinder minutes for their young bigs.

 

so the new plan is to use a bunch of draft picks on NBA ready wings and guards next season? very rarely does this pan out for any team. Usually takes 2-3 years for those rookies to BE something. By that time, won't guys like Noel be coming due for a contract? Will they choose to stay in Philly or bolt for a better market?

 

Greg Monroe is NOT a star. I could see the confusion if you didn't watch him play much. Hes a nice piece but far from a star. He is more than a step below aldridge, jordan and gasol. While its funny that he spurned the Knicks and Lakers, its not like a bonafide STAR got away.

 

Building a good young core of players is noble but not how the current NBA works. Its very rare to be the Spurs and even the Spurs jump into the FA frenzy. If you want to point to the Warriors, don't forget the free agents they brought in like Iggy and Livingston. They also played a different (and current) brand of ball while the Sixers are again, stuck with a glut of big men in a small ball league.

 

finally, the concept of mediocre players getting big deals is NOTHING new and the cap is going up SIGNIFICANTLY next season. When teams strike out on the biggest of names, they need to spend their $$ on someone and the lesser players gain the upper hand. Just look at Robin Lopez. Hes not worth what he got. Hes a fine player but the market dictated his haul.

 

 

I dont mean to keep piling on Sixer land but you guys have your own thread and seem to be the most vocal in all the NBA threads so im just trying to bring a little reality here.

[cbfalcon 825]

So Mark Stein tweets that Cuban has started informing people inside the organization that DJ won't be a Mav....this in spite of the fact they haven't heard from Jordan yet. He won't talk to them.

 

How big a POS is this guy? He can't even call Dallas and tell them he changed his mind? This dude doesn't realize how spineless he looks. Nor is he aware of the venom about to be launched at him.

[KSB2424 3,148]

So Mark Stein tweets that Cuban has started informing people inside the organization that DJ won't be a Mav....this in spite of the fact they haven't heard from Jordan yet. He won't talk to them.

 

How big a POS is this guy? He can't even call Dallas and tell them he changed his mind? This dude doesn't realize how spineless he looks. Nor is he aware of the venom about to be launched at him.

Apparently he is in a house in Houston with Doc and Blake Griffin and won't open the doors or answer the phone. lol

[Artista 460]

Apparently he is in a house in Houston with Doc and Blake Griffin and won't open the doors or answer the phone. lol

This is hilarious!

 

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/08/will-deandre-jordan-pick-clippers-or-mavericks-who-cares-blake-griffin-wins-saga-with-tweet/

 

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/08/report-deandre-jordan-tells-clippers-he-will-re-sign-with-them-but-they-arent-leaving-until-he-does/

[cbfalcon 825]

Chandler Parsons ‏@ChandlerParsons

I thought I had a good pump fake.

[cbfalcon 825]

Reggie Miller 30m30 minutes ago

Reggie Miller ‏@ReggieMillerTNT

Have a question for @daldridgetnt @jadande @ESPNSteinLine, can teams renege on agreed upon contracts during moratorium? Felt they overpaid

 

Reggie Miller, always asking the right questions. Kings should bail on the Rondo deal and come after Wes Mathews again. Afterall he picked Dallas after partying with DJ for 5 straight days.

[cbfalcon 825]

I probably sound bitter, but I actually think it's all entertaining. Sports hate is more fun than rooting sometimes. Die Clippers die.

[Artista 460]

I don't care for the Clips either but this is hilarious!

[Artista 460]

It's official: DeAndre Jordan has re-signed with Clippers; Mavericks are screwed!

[cbfalcon 825]

So the prudent Dallas move would have been to agree to a deal with Tyson Chandler for $12m, then maybe Brandon Wright for $6-7m. Once you have them locked up, THEN you start secretly negotiating with Deandre Jordan.

 

If at midnight July 10th, Jordan is willing to sign, you just bail on Chandler and Wright. Sure, nobody they'd want to play with has any salary cap space left, but that's their problem. If Jordan doesn't want to sign, you honor your deals with Chandler and Wright.

 

One would think the Players Association would totally flip out, but nope. The President of the NBAPA is now very much on record as supporting these sorts of shenanigans.

 

I am obviously being a bit tongue in cheek, and don't support teams doing this to players. But at the same time, wouldn't it be the intelligent move?

 

Obviously the league will end the moratorium going forward. But i am curious to see if there will be any fallout for the Clippers. Already hearing it suggested that other teams are upset as well.

[phillybear 366]

 

with noel, embiid and supposedly saric in the fold, shouldnt the plan have been to target some guards and athletic wings THIS year? I know the sixers really wanted Russell, despite the sugar coating but they now have a glut of big men and unless they jettison both Landry AND Thompson, that deal where they added a first round pick to take on salary will only hinder minutes for their young bigs.

 

so the new plan is to use a bunch of draft picks on NBA ready wings and guards next season? very rarely does this pan out for any team. Usually takes 2-3 years for those rookies to BE something. By that time, won't guys like Noel be coming due for a contract? Will they choose to stay in Philly or bolt for a better market?

 

Greg Monroe is NOT a star. I could see the confusion if you didn't watch him play much. Hes a nice piece but far from a star. He is more than a step below aldridge, jordan and gasol. While its funny that he spurned the Knicks and Lakers, its not like a bonafide STAR got away.

 

Building a good young core of players is noble but not how the current NBA works. Its very rare to be the Spurs and even the Spurs jump into the FA frenzy. If you want to point to the Warriors, don't forget the free agents they brought in like Iggy and Livingston. They also played a different (and current) brand of ball while the Sixers are again, stuck with a glut of big men in a small ball league.

 

finally, the concept of mediocre players getting big deals is NOTHING new and the cap is going up SIGNIFICANTLY next season. When teams strike out on the biggest of names, they need to spend their $$ on someone and the lesser players gain the upper hand. Just look at Robin Lopez. Hes not worth what he got. Hes a fine player but the market dictated his haul.

 

 

I dont mean to keep piling on Sixer land but you guys have your own thread and seem to be the most vocal in all the NBA threads so im just trying to bring a little reality here.

 

I'll say that a small ball league is silly. It's a fad, based on the success of one team for one year. Talented young big men are very rare in the NBA, which is why teams are trying to go small ball. How do you beat a team playing small ball? With a bunch of big guys dunking over them all game long and swatting away their drives into the lane. When you have an edge on a very marketable commodity, that's not a bad thing to have. Finding guards is much easier than finding talented big men in a draft or anywhere. Guards develop faster in the NBA than raw bigs. We will see what happens next year, which figures to be a huge step forward in the rebuild.

 

I have no issue with signing free agents eventually. But why now? The Sixers still have a butt load of cap room where they can still absorb 20+ million in salary this year for more assets for the next year. It's all about next year's offseason. Signing overpriced sh!tty players this year doesn't lead to a significant step forward. Hinkie wants as many shots at top players as possible with draft picks, so why make a run at 35 wins when it will not help for next year's draft, which is the tipping point. Although, it can be argued that is where the Sacramento pick swap comes in.

 

The front court rotation will work itself out. It's a long season, with injuries and potential trades to come. But it's nice to see worry about a glut of players at certain positions which contradicts many naysayers who will claim the Sixers have no talent whatsever on the roster.

[phillybear 366]

So Mark Stein tweets that Cuban has started informing people inside the organization that DJ won't be a Mav....this in spite of the fact they haven't heard from Jordan yet. He won't talk to them.

 

How big a POS is this guy? He can't even call Dallas and tell them he changed his mind? This dude doesn't realize how spineless he looks. Nor is he aware of the venom about to be launched at him.

 

DeAndre Jordan is a child. And this is what men have become in today's America. Not keeping a verbal agreement. Not able to face a person and say I quit. Putting their fingers in their ears and running around going La-la-la. And the Clippers being slimy in kidnapping Jordan.

 

On the bright side, the Clippers have overtaken every other team for being the most hated in the NBA.

 

The NBA should punish the franchise by removing the ownership and bringing back Donald Sterling. That would be a more respected team.

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

 

I'll say that a small ball league is silly. It's a fad, based on the success of one team for one year. Talented young big men are very rare in the NBA, which is why teams are trying to go small ball. How do you beat a team playing small ball? With a bunch of big guys dunking over them all game long and swatting away their drives into the lane. When you have an edge on a very marketable commodity, that's not a bad thing to have. Finding guards is much easier than finding talented big men in a draft or anywhere. Guards develop faster in the NBA than raw bigs. We will see what happens next year, which figures to be a huge step forward in the rebuild.

 

I have no issue with signing free agents eventually. But why now? The Sixers still have a butt load of cap room where they can still absorb 20+ million in salary this year for more assets for the next year. It's all about next year's offseason. Signing overpriced sh!tty players this year doesn't lead to a significant step forward. Hinkie wants as many shots at top players as possible with draft picks, so why make a run at 35 wins when it will not help for next year's draft, which is the tipping point. Although, it can be argued that is where the Sacramento pick swap comes in.

 

The front court rotation will work itself out. It's a long season, with injuries and potential trades to come. But it's nice to see worry about a glut of players at certain positions which contradicts many naysayers who will claim the Sixers have no talent whatsever on the roster.

I don't have the time right now to answer all of your post but I want to quickly address your very first statement and I'll get back to you later.

 

"Small ball" is not a fad based on one team. Analytics has trended toward the three for many years now. Also Miami has been playing small ball for most of the time Lebron was there as lebron is one of those athletic wings I was talking about.

 

The league in general has been trending toward point guards, athletic wings and 3 point shooters for a while no as deep 2s don't make statistical sense.

 

This is not to say the nba won't shift back to big men at some point bUT right now it is most certainly a guard dominated league and it's not just because golden state won this year. If you've been watching, you know.

[phillybear 366]

I don't have the time right now to answer all of your post but I want to quickly address your very first statement and I'll get back to you later.

 

"Small ball" is not a fad based on one team. Analytics has trended toward the three for many years now. Also Miami has been playing small ball for most of the time Lebron was there as lebron is one of those athletic wings I was talking about.

 

The league in general has been trending toward point guards, athletic wings and 3 point shooters for a while no as deep 2s don't make statistical sense.

 

This is not to say the nba won't shift back to big men at some point bUT right now it is most certainly a guard dominated league and it's not just because golden state won this year. If you've been watching, you know.

 

The Sixers aren't shying away from small ball either. When Doug Collins was coach, the Sixers were full of guys that would shoot long twos. Since Brett Brown came on board, the whole team is jacking threes instead of long twos. Just the past game, Furkan Aldemir, a guy that never shoots, hit 3 of 5 threes in the Summer League. LMBAM, Jerami Grant, some of these guys never shot a 3 in their life, but are throwing them up there by design. Sure, analytics. But you still need the bigs underneath. The best of both worlds.

 

I think it's become more guard oriented because there simply aren't enough talented big men to go around to even half the teams in the league so there is no other choice than go small. But that is certainly debatable.

[KSB2424 3,148]

 

DeAndre Jordan is a child. And this is what men have become in today's America. Not keeping a verbal agreement. Not able to face a person and say I quit. Putting their fingers in their ears and running around going La-la-la. And the Clippers being slimy in kidnapping Jordan.

 

On the bright side, the Clippers have overtaken every other team for being the most hated in the NBA.

 

The NBA should punish the franchise by removing the ownership and bringing back Donald Sterling. That would be a more respected team.

 

 

But seriously. Look, people change their mind. I can respect a change of heart. BUT damn, at least call up the Mavs, or Cuban and tell them man to man. Just tell them...."look I'm very sorry but I had a change of heart, it's not personal, I apologize but I'm doing what I think is best for me and my family".

 

What you don't do is dodge the people you verbally shook hands with and then hide in the basement.

[DankNuggs 305]

What a ridiculous scene. Will hurt his future contract negotiations, but i doubt he was thinking about that.

[cbfalcon 825]

Small Ball vs Big Men......meh. You win by having the best players, and then playing a style that maximizes their skill.

 

Maybe there was someone before Dirk, but when he was a rookie, local media said that he had to learn to post up and bang down low. Afterall, that's what 7 footers do. But Don Nelson was crazy enough to tell him to keep shooting 3's. And ever since, we've seen 6'9-7'0 kids come into the league that grew up facing the basket simply because it was more fun. And the concept of the stretch 4 grew...and even the idea of a Center having a 10-15 foot range is no big deal anymore.......The result is the number of big guys with a post up game decreased year by year. Oversimplified and conceptually speaking..... If there are 17 good wings, 1 good post player, and 2 bad post players...Well you'd love to have the good post player. But after that, 5 good wings is better than 4 wings and a bad post player.

 

Obviously analytics have told us that the best shots are those close to the basket and wide open 3's. Currently those shots are created by having a ball handlers that can get to the rim. When a defense collapses, someone will be open from downtown. And as the defense scrambles, the more guys behind the line that can shoot, the better...................But having a badass in the post accomplishes the same thing. He takes the shot near the rim, or if a defense collapses, he kicks it out to an open guy. As the defense scrambles, the more guys behind the line that can shoot, the better.

[Cruzer 1,995]

Tweet from Clyde Drexler: Why are you playing with people's time and money? your word is as valuable as your free throw shooting #DeAndreJordan #clippers #Mavericks

 

I'm prolly in he minority - but I'm glad Jordan pulled this chicken shiat move. This team has had great run with Dirk - but it's time to start over. D. Jordan wasn't going to save this franchise nor was he going to get us to the Finals. Even with DeAndre we still have no point guard, still have no true scoring threat, and still have no real leader. And Chandler Parsons? He's a another reason this team isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He's injury prone, overpaid, never on the court and terrible use of $46m.

[Artista 460]

 

 

But seriously. Look, people change their mind. I can respect a change of heart. BUT damn, at least call up the Mavs, or Cuban and tell them man to man. Just tell them...."look I'm very sorry but I had a change of heart, it's not personal, I apologize but I'm doing what I think is best for me and my family".

 

What you don't do is dodge the people you verbally shook hands with and then hide in the basement.

Mark Cuban issues a statement:

 

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/09/mark-cuban-issues-statement-on-deandre-jordan-situation-he-never-responded-to-me-at-all/

 

If true, cold on Jordan's part..and spineless...

[Artista 460]

NBPA issues statement on the Jordan fiasco:

 

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/09/nbpa-issues-statement-on-deandre-jordan-backing-out-of-commitment-to-mavericks/

[Artista 460]

Bruce Bowen gives LaMarcus Aldridge his blessing to wear his retired No. 12 in San Antonio! Incredible!

[KSB2424 3,148]

Bruce Bowen gives LaMarcus Aldridge his blessing to wear his retired No. 12 in San Antonio! Incredible!

Hold the phone. Bruce Bowens number is retired in SA? Do what?

[Artista 460]

Hold the phone. Bruce Bowens number is retired in SA? Do what?

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/09/bruce-bowen-gives-lamarcus-aldridge-his-blessing-to-wear-his-retired-no-12-in-san-antonio/

[KSB2424 3,148]

No no. I appreciate The gesture from Bruce. And Bruce was a good player. Defensive agitator who hit some corner threes.

 

But his number is retired?!?!? Do they retire all Spurs starters or something?

 

I mean the Admiral? Yes. Timmy? Of course. Manu, Tony? Yes.

 

But Bruce Bowen? I'm flabbergasted.

[Artista 460]

No no. I appreciate The gesture from Bruce. And Bruce was a good player. Defensive agitator who hit some corner threes.

 

But his number is retired?!?!? Do they retire all Spurs starters or something?

 

I mean the Admiral? Yes. Timmy? Of course. Manu, Tony? Yes.

 

But Bruce Bowen? I'm flabbergasted.

Yes.

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/bruce-bowen-and-thanking-the-thankless-job

[Artista 460]

The Spurs and Duncan are reportedly nearing a 2-year deal worth $5 million in year one, with a player option on the second year! Yeah! I knew he was for sure for 1, but 2??

[DankNuggs 305]

Embiid done for the year maybe career threatening

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13239525/joel-embiid-philadelphia-76ers-needs-another-foot-surgery-likely-2015-16-season

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

was going to make a new topic on it but since you already mentioned it

 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25239203/report-sixers-joel-embiid-will-miss-next-season-after-2nd-foot-surgery

 

 

now of course the hinkie-anatics will spin this by focusing on how they drafted Okafor. Simply put this is a prime example of why acquiring draft picks and continually tanking is so very hit or miss and it can take a long long time to build that way. Basically you may have used two top picks in back to back years on 1 player.

[phillybear 366]

was going to make a new topic on it but since you already mentioned it

 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25239203/report-sixers-joel-embiid-will-miss-next-season-after-2nd-foot-surgery

 

 

now of course the hinkie-anatics will spin this by focusing on how they drafted Okafor. Simply put this is a prime example of why acquiring draft picks and continually tanking is so very hit or miss and it can take a long long time to build that way. Basically you may have used two top picks in back to back years on 1 player.

 

The Embiid news was a disappointment.

 

However, it's not a "setback". That's a popular yet misleading term. He does not have to redo the same surgery. That was for the most part a success. The injury healed most of the way, but didn't finish completely. Rather than risk playing hurt and making the situation chronic, an addendum surgery is scheduled to get him to 100%. The surgery will be much less risky than the original. Will he every recover fully? No clue. Some have speculated that Embiid's growth spurt (he is 2 inches taller this year than last year, and is now 7'2") threw off the healing process. It's debatable. Not having Embiid is a negative in the rebuild for now, but still worth the risk of being drafted in the first place.

 

Theoretically, the Sixers may add up to 6 first time NBA players next year to their active roster. If you include Embiid and Saric, the Sixers could add 4 lottery picks and 2 other first rounders. The future still looks very bright.

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

 

The Embiid news was a disappointment.

 

However, it's not a "setback". That's a popular yet misleading term. He does not have to redo the same surgery. That was for the most part a success. The injury healed most of the way, but didn't finish completely. Rather than risk playing hurt and making the situation chronic, an addendum surgery is scheduled to get him to 100%. The surgery will be much less risky than the original. Will he every recover fully? No clue. Some have speculated that Embiid's growth spurt (he is 2 inches taller this year than last year, and is now 7'2") threw off the healing process. It's debatable. Not having Embiid is a negative in the rebuild for now, but still worth the risk of being drafted in the first place.

 

Theoretically, the Sixers may add up to 6 first time NBA players next year to their active roster. If you include Embiid and Saric, the Sixers could add 4 lottery picks and 2 other first rounders. The future still looks very bright.

 

not buying it. i mean i get it, the sixers are your team and you're going to spin it as well as you can but in no way is this good news and its a huge blow to the "rebuild". I could have argued that the rebuild wouldn't work out or take 5+ years even with a healthy embiid, but now? chronic or not, your'e taking a key cog and he wont have played basketball for 2+ years. Thats huge. And foot / ankle / leg injuries tend to become chronic with big men. Its like how awesome MCW was when he was in sixer land and then as soon as they traded him, he was average and turned the ball over too much .

 

So now you've got Nerlens Noel, a shelved Embiid, a foreign hopeful in Saric, a big man whose stock was falling leading up to the draft because of serious question about multiple areas of his game in Okafor. No PG and no athletic wings but lots of draft picks that could be hits or misses.

 

just not how contenders are built in the nba today

[phillybear 366]

just not how contenders are built in the nba today

 

Considering that we are just starting Year 3 of the rebuild, and that no team has tried this strategy before, it is way too early to cast dispersions. The process may still fail, but the franchise is in much, much better standing than it has been since the Iverson led team run to the finals with a team sorely lacking talent.

 

Contenders are built by hitting on players early in the lottery, mostly talented big guys, and building teams around them.

[MDC 7,505]

was going to make a new topic on it but since you already mentioned it

 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25239203/report-sixers-joel-embiid-will-miss-next-season-after-2nd-foot-surgery

 

 

now of course the hinkie-anatics will spin this by focusing on how they drafted Okafor. Simply put this is a prime example of why acquiring draft picks and continually tanking is so very hit or miss and it can take a long long time to build that way. Basically you may have used two top picks in back to back years on 1 player.

So now the Sixers rebuilding strategy is to blame for Embiid's foot?

 

Also: Billy King

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

So now the Sixers rebuilding strategy is to blame for Embiid's foot?

 

Also: Billy King

At the end of my last post I was going to include

 

Eta on MDC to mention Billy king?

 

You need a new deflection. You played that oNE out already to some one who said they don't like king...

 

If you don't see my point t regarding Embiid and relying on risky draft picks to rebuild then there is no hope for ya

[MDC 7,505]

 

Considering that we are just starting Year 3 of the rebuild, and that no team has tried this strategy before, it is way too early to cast dispersions. The process may still fail, but the franchise is in much, much better standing than it has been since the Iverson led team run to the finals with a team sorely lacking talent.

Since you just started following the Sixers last year how would you even know? Did you read a whole lot about AI to form that opinion?

[mobb_deep 920]

Embiid is trying very hard to beat Greg Oden for biggest NBA bust ever.

[phillybear 366]

Since you just started following the Sixers last year how would you even know? Did you read a whole lot about AI to form that opinion?

 

I've been betting on the NBA for decades. The only teams I would root for were the ones I had money on. I've decided to root for the Sixers while continuing to bet. It's not like I'm an alien from another planet that just discovered professional basketball. I'm expanding my purview.

 

Make sense now?

 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around you accusing somebody of being a bandwagon fan when they jump onto arguably the worst team in the league.

[MDC 7,505]

 

I've been betting on the NBA for decades. The only teams I would root for were the ones I had money on. I've decided to root for the Sixers while continuing to bet. It's not like I'm an alien from another planet that just discovered professional basketball. I'm expanding my purview.

 

Make sense now?

 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around you accusing somebody of being a bandwagon fan when they jump onto arguably the worst team in the league.

I guess it's that you're a blowhard who parrots opinions about the Sixers verbatim from a bunch of websites I read and makes bold oroclamations about the team's direction based on a history you never observed.

 

You're like drobeski, minus the successful team to root for.

[phillybear 366]

I guess it's that you're a blowhard who parrots opinions about the Sixers verbatim from a bunch of websites I read and makes bold oroclamations about the team's direction based on a history you never observed.

 

You're like drobeski, minus the successful team to root for.

 

You are a smarmy, snobby Sixer fan. What a weird combination.

 

Also, the next time you see somebody rip off my opinions and claim them as their own elsewhere, let me know. I don't cotton to rubes partaking in such tomfoolery. Such nerve.

[WhiteWonder 2,767]

i didnt have time before but wanted to address what MDC was failing to grasp.

 

Embiid being hurt is not the Sixers fault, of course. It just goes to illustrate how incredibly risky their "plan" is. Relying on unknowns to come together and create a dynasty because no free agents want to come to Philly. You get a player like MCW, who I will repeat was the greatest thing since sliced bread when he was in a sixers uniform and then all of a sudden he was overrated . You let guys like Holiday and Young go. Havn't we seen just how risky draft picks can be? There is a reason other teams have not tried to build like this. Its not realistic in todays NBA.

 

Lets look at other sports. I know this isnt an apples to apples comparison but in the NFL, you try to do a 5+ year rebuild and your coach and GM don't make it past year 2. Hinkster is entering year 3? Now granted, the NBA is a little different. Generally the coaches get the axe and the GMs get a little more wiggle room but eventually ownership demands change. Baseball is a different beast because you have no cap and you have small market teams who are content to turn a profit with low payroll. In fact you have GMs who are paid to accomplish this.

 

When is the last time a title contending team in the NBA was built entirely through the draft and reached that status in 3 years? The current Cavs? nope. The Lebron in miami experiment? Nope. Either of the most recent Lakers runs? shaq and Gasol say no. The Celtics? nope. 2004 Pistons? they drafted Darko that year . finals MVP chauncey Billups was a FA signing from minny, Ben Wallace was traded from the magic i believe and Rasheed Wallace was brought over in a trade as well. The Mavs? Chandler in his best years, Marion was still a force and Kidd had just enough gas left in the tank.... The Spurs would probably be the only recent example if my memory is correct winning titles in large part to Duncan, Leonard, Parker and Ginobli... all drafted and tenured. And prior to that it was the twin towers wreaking havoc. They had some role players they brought in... bruce bowen but the cores of those teams were "home grown".

 

Its just too hard and risky to build entirely through the draft and it takes wayyy too long. The spurs were lucky in that they had Admiral in place and were able to transition to the Duncan, Parker, Ginobili era. And now those guys transitioned to Kawhi. But look, even the Spurs know it takes some big time free agents now and then,

 

I dislike Philly sports. Ill admit that but its more so football and baseball as I find their fans, especially Eagle fans to be utterly obnoxious. I don't mind the Sixers at all. I just think there needs to be a point in time where the Sixers pick a young guy are 3 to actually stick with (something they didnt do with Jrue or MCW) assuming they hit on some of these picks... and then start trading some of those picks for an established star.

 

I think Embiid is going to end up being a huge bust. So lets say you build around Noel and Saric ends up being a star in the making (big if). Lets even pretend Okafor is a stud and its not a big deal that all your young studs are front court guys. At that point, I'd be looking to package some of my bevy of picks for a big time PG or athletic wing.

[MDC 7,505]

It's not that I disagree with you WW because I am still on the fence about Hinkie and plenty if Sixer fans share your view. It's that you make specious arguments that show me you really don't know much about the players you are talking about.

 

The Jrue deal was complete theft and I would take Noel straight up over him - add another first rounder and that was a no brainer. ET and Hawes are total JAGs. If either ever becomes more than a mediocre player I will be stunned. And Thad was leaving - we got a first where we can.

 

That was a core that won 34 games, they were maxed out already and closer to the bottom of the league than the top. So if your point was that Hinkie should be more aggressive in putting players on the team I get it. But your argument that the above players were worth keeping together and they should have added to that core is just dumb. The best of the bunch was Jrue and I am willing to bet 90% of Pelicans fans out there would undo that deal in a second if they could.

 

I'm not missing your point. I honestly think a Jrue / ET / Thad / Hawes core was at best a .500 team in a bad conference forever. I just wish you'd pick a better bone of contention with Hinkie than the fact that he blew up a bad team.

 

Hell, just rip him of drafting Embiid.