The Sixers have a busy and important offseason ahead of them. The team is armed with a wealth of salary cap flexibility as well as the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and Bryan Colangelo, the team’s new president of basketball operations, will be the man tasked with restoring basketball in Philadelphia to its once former greatness. The executive discussed a number of topics with Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com recently, and while the entire interview is most definitely worth a read, here are some of the highlights:
On the likelihood of trading Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor:
“I don’t know that there’s a likelihood. I can’t put a number on it. I would just simply tell you that there’s been conversations and there’s been a lot of interest expressed in some of the players that we have, but nothing that’s made enough sense to pull the trigger on. We’ve talked about the five position in particular.”
On the possibility of dealing away the No. 1 overall pick this June:
“It hasn’t been in any realistic conversation. There’s been a few people that have inquired. As I’ve said before, you never say never in this business. But I would still say it’s highly unlikely that the pick is in play in a deal, given the nature of this draft. I’ve always said you never say never, but I can’t imagine a deal coming forward that would stop us from making that selection. What’s probably more in play is the 24th and 26th pick, which kind of ties into the notion that we’ve got a fairly young team. We want to pick up the pace with regards to the winning aspect of basketball games. What we’d like to do is find a way to best utilize those picks to help us achieve that goal. If it happens that we use both and select, it’s probably going to be because we didn’t have a good alternative in terms of a deal or we felt those players could help us get where we wanted to go.”
On deciding between Ben Simmons (LSU) and Brandon Ingram (Duke) for the top pick:
“You can make an argument either way that Brandon Ingram would fit well and that Ben Simmons would fit well. That’s the discussion. Those are the conversations that we’re having to try to determine not just which player will ultimately have the better career and achieve a higher status, but which player is the best fit as well. It’s a combination of things for us. When you look at both it’s pretty hard to imagine that either one would be a wrong choice. It’s a good position to be in. I can’t tell you that as we sit here on June 10th that a decision’s been made by anybody. We may be leaning one direction or another. But it’s safer to say that you don’t have to make a decision until the 23rd.”
On draft-and-stash pick Dario Saric, who was recently scouted by the front office:
“He really showed his full repertoire, everything from some post moves and some good interior passing to an improved shot.The perimeter shot looks like it’s really coming. He’s got a full range of ball skills and passing skills. I think his game will definitely translate to the NBA in a positive way. The timing of him coming to the NBA is still in question. I believe there’s a desire on both sides to make it happen sooner rather than later, but at the same time, the contract scenario, economics, etc., etc. all plays a part in that decision making. We’ll know soon enough whether it’s going to happen for this particular season. That’s our goal and our desire. I think in the next few weeks we’ll have more clarity.”
On the possibility that center Joel Embiid will play in the Summer League:
“People are just looking for a timeline. There’s no timeline. But until I hear a doctor tell me ‘No summer league,’ I will always say anything’s open. But the likelihood of him playing summer league is nil. I would only say that because of where he is in the progression right now. But if he makes enough progress and the doctors say he’s ready to go there’s no reason he shouldn’t. But having said that, I would say it’s a 99% chance, maybe a 100% chance, that he’s not going to play. We just don’t want to put him in a situation where he hasn’t been playing competitive basketball. We probably want to ease into that and that would mean sometime after summer league. But if he is going to come into training camp you want him to have at least a little bit of flow and a little bit of rhythm and to be in a position where he could have tested the foot to the extent that he’s ultimately going to be exposed in a training-camp environment.”
Good article. Very informative.
And I hope BC means it when he says they are having discussions about the 1st pick and they are keeping an open mind.
PS If the Sixers take Ingram so be it, but I will be disappointed if they take Simmons. I am just not a fan. Not even a little bit.
100% agree
Today’s game is shooting. He’ll be a good rebounder, scoring 10-12 pts a a game. At-best. I agree
Simmons will be the pick and in a few years will be the face of the NBA. LeBron will be too old, Curry will lose his quickness, and Simmons will be a mega star in his prime winning championships in Philly.
Ingram will be a let down like all recent Duke draft picks – Okafor, Parker.
Parker is hardly a let down. Tore his ACL his rookie year and actually played well last year. Parker’s only problem is that him and the Greek Freak play the same positions and need the same space to operate.
Ingram would be nice if they Also got Simmons lol. But if we are talking about floors… Simmons is like Lamar Odom and Ingrams is Adam Morrison. But Ingram could end up in Indiana or Chicago by draft night.
If the Sixers make a deal for a guard that is similar to UFA Brandon Jennings ill be smh since he should be relatively cheap and young. Aka dont trade for Teague.
Just like Odom
I wouldn’t be too quick to deal Oakafor or Noel. This years draft is weak, so it might be better to wait until the trade deadline to make a move for a younger player or draft pick for next year’s draft. If they do make a deal, they have to include Landry’s contract and make sure to get a pick that guarantee’s them the PG they want, whether that is Murray or Dunn.
I disagree, there are a couple top tier point guards in this draft, but the PG spot is suppose to be very good next year in the draft which is why I think they should take Murray instead of Dunn, I love Dunn but you could move Murray off the point next year if need be.