The Sixers may have found a long-term backup to injured big man Joel Embiid in 2015 second-round pick Richaun Holmes. Holmes, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, has thrived given the chance to fill in and step into a larger role.
Holmes has averaged 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 25.9 minutes per game since the All-Star break, about twice what he contributed for the Sixers prior to it.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown acknowledges the improvement and thinks that Holmes’ success could be here to stay. “I think a lot of the good teams have those lightning-in-the-bottle players that can just change a game,” Brown said. “You know, initially, you are wondering can he be one of those. Is he a duration player? I think since he’s come into the starting five, you are recognizing that there’s more durability.”
- If the Knicks decide to release Derrick Rose, it will free up $18MM in cap room for them to find a point guard or draft one this offseason. As Bobby Marks of the Vertical explains on Twitter, the pending free agent otherwise has a $30MM cap hold set for this summer. Earlier today we wrote about Rose missing the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus.
- Though the refs assigned Kyrie Irving a flagrant foul for his shove on Sixers forward Justin Anderson Friday night, the victim doesn’t take it personally. “He was just protecting his teammate, I think he saw LeBron James went down [on the previous play],” Anderson told Joe Noga of Cleveland.com.
- Second-year forward Justin Anderson is getting his best opportunity to show the Sixers what he’s capable. Anderson has seen his role increase now that Robert Covington has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, writes Brian Seltzer of the Sixers’ official website. “My job is to go out there and make the most of it,” said Anderson. “It’s not to try and become All-Star in this little bit of time. My job is to show that, no matter what, this team can rely on me, I can be consistent, and bring the energy playing defense, rebounding the basketball, and then contributing on offensive end in many different ways.“
- The Celtics have been a model team for rebuilding clubs looking to turn their fates around, Taylor C. Snow of the Celtics’ official site writes. Rival Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek cites the roster full of hard-nosed guys as one of the major reasons behind their success.
I keep thinking – Sixers gotta bring in a Superstar via FA or Trade. But looking at the roster, IF, big IF, Embiid is healthy and they can retain him without having to max him out, they can home-grow this thing 100%.
Regular Line-up:
Embiid
Saric
Covington
Monk
Simmons
Holmes
Okafor
Anderson/TLC
Henderson
Bayless/McConnell
Lakers 2018 probably will be Top-15
Kings 2019 probably Top-10
The best thing that can happen this off-season is that 1) They all get healthy. 2) Lakers pick falls outside the top-3. 3) Okafor pulls a Lopez & adds a 3-pt shot to his game – another big IF.
I don’t think Okafor gets traded unless Joel Embiid plays unrestricted from Day 1. If he does, Okafor is gone at the deadline. If Embiid is on the shelf again, Okafor is here to stay and he ends up being Carlos Boozer 2.0 – offense no defense. Boozer had Ilgauskas, Okur, Asik/Noah to be that defender and he line-up would be a bigger lineup… If they trade Okafor, and Embiid flames out you have Holmes… lol I mean he’s a nice reserve..
I don’t see them homegrowing everyone. Okafor and Embiid aren’t building blocks to me. Holmes, TLC, McConnell, and Covington are all good long term pieces. Not stars, but certainly 4 rotation fixtures for awhile. Bringing in a couple 2nd tier FA’s and hitting with their lottery pick this time around would go along way. Maybe Rudy Gay takes a 1 yr prove it deal to show he is healthy since he’d get good time in Philly and they get a first at the deadline.
Saric looks good too.
Embiid is a building block if he is healthy. Big IF though. Okafor is Carlos Boozer 2.0, not a building block he’s a starter on a lot of teams, but he could also end up as a Greg Monroe or a Drew Gooden.
If you’ve watched games, Embiid is legit. Take Hakeem and add a 3 pter, that’s Embiid’s ceiling. His floor is obviously without a doubt Greg Oden.
I know Embiid is good, I’ve watched him play, and the potential is massive. But the injuries mean I don’t see them being able to build around him.
If he has 2 good years he’ll get paid and be the next D-Rose. I see the potential, but he won’t play enough IMO.
There’s one thing Sixers fans need to come to terms with: Embiid will never be a full time starter in the NBA.
Unless Ben Simmons turns out to be a Superstar player, the prolonged tanking strategy is still very far from meeting its objectives of finding a generational franchise player,or, at the very least, establishing the core of a championship contender.
I see Embiid – if he ever gets 100% healthy – mirroring Shaq’s GP over his career. He played 60 or less games in his 4th, 5th, and 6th year. He had 3 consecutive years of 67 games in his prime when he won titles with LA.
I don’t expect Embiid to be Cal Ripken ever. I don’t expect him to ever play 82 games. Realistically – 50ish/year and as long as the missed games come in like December/January it’s all good.
The strategy has sort of worked. No clue what Simmons is yet, he could be Lamar Odom, he could be LBJ 2.0. He could be Reggie Williams. Kid had more hype though than Mayo, Telfair, Oden. We’ll see. Any contender now needs at least 2 legit ballers, and a close 3rd.
Saric looks Very Good though. So if Simmons/Embiid don’t pan out… Sixers need to hit on one of these lottery picks 17, 18 & 19 to even sniff late round playoffs.
Okafor sucks
The process is firmly trusted in this one.
I don’t trust Bryan’s ability to carry through the process. I’m sure he’ll find a way to muck it up.
In seeing them trade okefor, top 5 pick, the lakers 2018 and their best 2nd this year for butler. Especially if they get the 4th and 5th picks in draft. 5th means they can still grab Dennis smith.
Lineup of
Smith
Butler
Simmons
Saric
Embiid
That’s a premier perimeter defender and post defender which is needed in today s game.
They want Simmons to play the 1 though
You mean the Kings 2019 pick, if the Lakers Pick turns into 4 they get it this year not in 2018.
On offense, still need a guard defensively and smith is best player available at 5. Against cavs for instance butler guards lebron, Smith guards kyrie and Simmons takes j.r. smith so he has less responsibilty.
Ben simmons is never going to play the PG. he will play 3/4, but occasionally run the offense and bring the ball up.
Lol keep dreaming butler isn’t going to philly
Why not? It’s not like Butler has a choice. He’ll go to the highest bidder.