Do they still trust the process in Philadelphia?
That’s the question to be addressed this summer for the Sixers, who are in position to grow into one of the East’s dominant teams over the next decade. With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons serving as franchise cornerstones, another young talent in Dario Saric, the top pick in last year’s draft in Markelle Fultz and a probable lottery pick coming from the Lakers, the Sixers can stand pat this summer and still be assured of a bright future.
They also have the assets and the cap flexibility to take the opposite approach. Philadelphia is reportedly high on the list of possible destinations for LeBron James, and it wouldn’t take much cap tinkering to open enough cap room to offer a max contract. Philadelphia has roughly $67.4MM in committed salary for next season, which rises to about $70.6MM if the non-guaranteed contracts of T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes are both picked up. With a projected cap of $101MM, it would only take a minor move or two for the Sixers to be able to meet LeBron’s asking price.
If James goes elsewhere, Philly is position to trade for a third star. If San Antonio can’t work things out with Kawhi Leonard, an offer centered around Saric, Fultz and the Lakers’ pick could be enough to at least get the Spurs’ attention.
Even though their season ended in disappointment, there may be no team better positioned for the future than the Sixers. They can keep what they have or swing for the fences, and they figure to be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference either way.
What would you do? Would you let Simmons and Embiid develop as team leaders or try to rush the process and add another star? Jump into the comments section below and give us your feedback.
The 1st step is to dump Bayless’ contract. They have 4 2nd round picks. Bulls, Hawks, etc… any team that can absorb 9M I’d be making a call. Conversely they could use it in a trade bringing in talent for salary matching purposes.
If the Sixers actually do land Lebron. Maybe they bring in his buddy Kevin Love, which would cost considerably less than Kawhi as far as assets.
RoCo + Bayless + late 1st or TLC/Korkmaz should honestly do the trick at this point for Love.
I’m a Laker fan and what Philly has going looks very scary. Young stars, cap room and picks. Barring major injuries, Boston and Philadelphia will own the East for a while. San Antonio should be able to extract a lot for Leonard.
That expiring contract paired with his recent stubbornness to communicate with the Spurs’ front office won’t be as easy as you think
The 4 core of players are unmovable in my mind and that includes Sarc and Fultz. I make a play for LeBron of course, he works everywhere. I would not give up the pieces for Leonard.
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Lebron goes to Philly and the Sixers will win the next 3-4 chips.
How do they make that happen? Who do they give up? Who is going to shoot? Simmons is potentially a young LeBron. James would have to accept a dramatically altered role and become a cutting/posting scorer and play the 4, leaving the ball in Ben’s hands. Ultimately I think LeBron stays and cements his legacy in Cleveland.
LeBron is going to opt out, hes a Free Agent. They give him money that’s all.
But they still have to create cap room and space
Nope
They won’t be able to sign Reddick to another deal like this season for example. So, who goes if he comes?
They have the cap space to sign LBJ. I never said anything about Redick. As of right now, Amir Johnson, JJ Redick, Ersan Ilyasova, and Marco Belinelli are not on the roster. Simply cap holds.
I think it’d be a big mistake to try and land James or George… Kawhi is great, but he’s a bit older, and I wouldn’t want to give up on Saric to get him. I think they should stand pat, see how they can integrate Fultz and get a full healthy season out of Joel. I can’t quite believe they were beaten so convincingly. It wasn’t a talent imbalance -if anything they had the advantage. I think the coaching was at fault and the pressure got to Ben and Joel. I don’t think anyone other than TJ had a good series.
It’s only a game, and they’re young. I propose that they don’t overreact.
My stance on a big signing may change if they don’t keep hold of JJ and Marco and their 2 guard spot becomes weakened, in which case you start Fultz, RoCo, Leonard, Simmons, Embiid. The bench would be weak and there isn’t enough shooting.
Kawhi is 26, George is 28 and LeBron is 33.
Yeah I know, sorry I meant I was ruling out George and James because of timelines and despite Leonard’s advanced age relative to the Philly core he’d be the better fit timeline-wise.
LBJ or PG13 leap frog then the Finals sooner than later. Otherwise it’s more Hope than anything. Hope that Fultz plans out. Hope they get a wing out of this draft. They need to upgrade the wing, like most teams. You out and get the best you can. I am not 100% for a Kawhi trade just bc idk what I am getting. Not trading assets for damaged goods. That’s how the process started with Bynum and it would set them back a few years.
No offense but im not trading Saric i feel like he is very underrated and probably one of the best stretch 4s in the game. I’d do a RoCo, Fultz and both of the Sixers 1st rounders for Kawhi.
So you’d start Ben, 2guard – Reddick on a cheaper deal? Leonard, Saric, Embiid?
I know Leonard brings all that RoCo does defensively while being a dependable scorer. Thing is, in SA he had the ball in his hands a lot and Simmons functions best surrounded by cutters and shooters. Leonard was shooting well pre injury, but he’s not a pure shooter like a Middleton/Durant. He’s like a better Jimmy Butler.
I’ve seen that trade scenario for Kawhi being suggested a few times and it makes no sense. His “injury” kept him out for a year and he is an unrestricted free agent after next season. Also, he could be damaged goods, a prima donna or both. Instead of giving up 3 low cost potential stars, wait a year and sign him.
It’s unfortunate for them that aren’t better/more FA options out there, because I don’t think that either LeBron or PG would pick Philly over LA. Kawhi, if truly available, obviously makes sense, but an interesting alternative would be Kyle Lowry. I would guess he would fit well with Simmons, and while he’s older, his contract only runs two more years, which would match a max level extension for Simmons. It probably wouldn’t cost a ton either, leaving a fair amount of assets for other potential trades.
31M and 33.2M for Lowry? Joking right? Age 32 and 33. Cant beat LeBron as #1 seed year after year. Anxiety issues in big games? Hard Pass. And youd have to trade RoCo, Bayless, Fultz just go get close to salary match.
I tell you now Roco and Fultz need to go .
They need to get Mcconnell, Holmes, Bellinelli, and Ilyasova signed to new contracts, not optioning the first two. There would still be room for a big FA contract though Redick will probably be the only choice. He isn’t that crucial though if Bellinelli is signed.
Simmons and Fultz are overrated. If either can draw top talent in a trade do it.