Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsJD
When the news of Joel Embiid's "setback" broke, it seemed like every Sixers' fans worst fear came to fruition.
Not again. It was supposed to be different this time.
Armed with the mad scientist Sam Hinkie, the vagabond Sixers' fortunes seemed destined to change. But somehow, the curse that seemingly hangs around Philadelphia sports teams like a fog on a hot summer morning seemed to have figured out a way to infiltrate the Sixers plan for turning this franchise around.
Fortunately, Hinkie & Co. built in contingencies for the Embiid injury. It's as if Hinkie has a team of men sitting around somewhere right now just thinking shit up and somebody backing them up:
Hinkie saw the writing on the wall. Embiid was a 19 year-old 7 footer, who, while extremely talented, had a stress fracture in his back and the navicular bone in his foot. It does not take a rocket scientist from NASA to figure out that those are not good combinations.
And while you can reasonably debate the merits of the Sixers' decision to draft Embiid, you must give credit where credit is due: Hinkie had reinforcements waiting in the wing in the form of four first round picks in 2016.
The Sixers new slogan for the 2015-16 season is "It Starts Now." Coupled with their new unis, and the (apparently mistaken) belief that Embiid would join the team in 2015, the Sixers signified to fans that the worst part of #ThePlan was over. That we are indeed reaching the end of that dark tunnel, and the light comes in the form of exciting young franchise caliber players, the likes of which we have not seen in this city since 1983.
While they likely thought the plan could progress organically by adding whichever prospect was available at number three, those plans likely (or at the very least, hopefully) have changed given the news that Embiid's foot was healing slower than anticipated.
Because for all of the talk about the Sixers embarking on a five year plan towards never before seen greatness, the simple truth remains that the Sixers are in the business of selling a product. And while Philadelphia fans have shown the patience of Job with this rebuild, they won't wait around forever for empty promises of progress wrapped in future picks and players stashed overseas.
The Sixers brass seem to have implicitly recognized this when they put the full court pressure on Dario Saric to come over to the Sixers this year, one to two years before it was thought he would join the team. While those plans did not work, it was telling that the Sixers tried — apparently with great effort — to accelerate that process.
It's as if they were signifying to the fans "We get it. We are with you. We are ready to step forward."
So tonight is the night that the Sixers should make due on their promises to the fans of something special. They have the number three pick. And they should land a good, if not great, NBA player from the mix.
D’Angelo Russell, Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Kristaps Porzingis all have considerable upside.
But it’s not enough. It’s time for the Sixers and Sam Hinkie to cash in some of those future first round picks for the chance to nab another top-10 prospect. Because if the Sixers come out of this draft with only one lottery player, the 2015-16 season likely won’t be any different than last year. Sure, there is the off-chance that Embiid’s fragile body somehow heals in time for the season. But I would not hold out hope. 7’0 with reoccurring foot issues rarely recover. Just ask Hinkie. He saw it front and center with Yao Ming during his time in Houston.
So coming away with, say, D’Angelo Russell, would be a great get. Sixers fans have been clamoring for him to be drafted since it was revealed that we would pick third. But Russell and Noel won’t move the needle forward. And you can’t help but think it would feel like a tremendous let down. Two years of tanking; four draft picks; and all we have to show for it, at least now, is Russell and a big man that excels on only half the court.
What are some of the options available to the Sixers? Let’s take a look:
Denver’s Number 7 Pick: In my one and only mock draft, I had the Sixers trade for the Nuggets number seven overall pick. It seems like a realistic option given that the Nuggets are seemingly ready to blow up their roster. Reports suggest that they’ve been looking to offload Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried so they can rebuild their team.
While the number seven pick could yield a talented player to help accelerate that rebuilding process, they could be enticed by multiple first round picks as well. Perhaps the Sixers offer the Lakers top 3 protected pick plus the Oklahoma City Thunder pick next year, and some second rounders this year. Maybe it takes using the Heat pick instead of the Thunder pick, given that OKC stands to be much better next year (and thus the pick much lower in the draft). Regardless, getting to 7 could land them a prospect such as Justise Winslow or Mario Hezonja, two wing players that would be ideal fits for the Sixers plans moving forward.
New York Knicks 4 Pick: It is unclear whether New York is looking to offload this pick. But given that they do not have a 2016 first round pick, they could be open to the idea of grabbing multiple future picks in exchange for the number four overall pick. The likelihood seems to increase more if Okafor and Russell are off the board.
It would likely require the Sixers to use the Lakers and Heat pick, plus some second rounders this year. Would they also consider throwing Nerlens Noel in the deal? Maybe. The Knicks need a rim protector. And as good as Noel was on the defensive side of the ball, he still projects as a one-way player with limited offensive upside.
If the Sixers land this pick, I would expect them to target Kristaps Prozingis or Mario Hezonja here, assuming Russell and Okafor are off the board.
Sacramento Kings 6 Pick: The Kings are all over the place. Are they trading Boogie Cousins? Are they getting rid of Rudy Gay? Are they rebuilding or staying pat? I am not sure even they know. But the same package of picks could be used to get the 6 pick so that would be needed in these deals. Again, the same players should also be available.
Trading Back: I do not see this happening. It makes little sense for the Sixers to trade back now for the chance of getting two starters instead of one potential All Star. You don't win that way in the NBA. You need the studs first, then focus on the other guys. So I would disregard any report suggesting the Sixers will trade back from 3, unless they are getting considerable returns in the process.
Here's to hoping tonight is a major step forward in #ThePlan, and not another can kicked down the road. Go Sixers.
