76ers

Offseason mailbag: where do the Philadelphia 76ers go from here?

We’ve now reached that awkward point of the NBA offseason where the playoffs are peaking in intensity with the conference finals starting, but it’s not quite the draft season and there’s no free agency buzz yet.

It’s almost like the Spongebob meme where Squidward (the eliminated teams) is looking at Spongebob and Patrick (the remaining teams) having fun outside while he’s trapped in his house filled with darkness and misery. 

With that being said, it’s time for the very first 76ers offseason mailbag! 

Question #1: Do you think the 76ers get high-quality role players or a big three? (asked by @Melvyn.267 via Instagram)

This is a case where what I think is going to happen and what should happen are two different answers. I believe that Daryl Morey, considering his track record and what was said in his exit press conference, will look to add on a third star to compliment Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

As mentioned before, Paul George is very much on the table if he declines his player option with Marc Stein and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst backing this. Windhorst also added that a Jimmy Butler reunion and Brandon Ingram (if he were on the trade market) are possibilities as well.  

However, I think that Philadelphia’s main focus should seek out a multitude of quality role players who will relieve pressure off of Embiid and Maxey come playoffs, more specifically, two-way wings.

Star play was no issue for the 76ers as Embiid and Maxey both notched career-best averages against the New York Knicks this postseason. The biggest offensive issue was the lack of support around the star duo and that’s the most important aspect of the roster that needs to be addressed.

All of these “star” players, except Brandon Ingram, are soon to become a victim of father time and the last thing Philadelphia needs is another situation where they’re handicapped by a player who is undeserving of a max contract.

With guys like Gary Trent Jr, Tyus Jones, and Malik Monk, amongst others set to be unrestricted free agents, the 76ers should look to fill out their roster rather than force another big three attempt. 

Question #2: Who do you think the best option for the 76ers’ next “star” is? Factor in price, playoff performance, etc. (asked by @WylerAidan via X)

In general, I’m on the fence about the 76ers acquiring another star because this summer’s free agency class nor the early trade market has a ton of them who would truly move the needle for Philadelphia. But, if I had to choose one “star” to join the 76ers, I would pick Paul George, assuming he declines his $48.8 million player option.

Jimmy Butler (if he were available for trade) is a close second, but I ultimately went with George because Philadelphia could downright sign him rather than having to trade a plethora of draft capital to Miami in exchange for Butler. Not to mention, George is a better fit next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey with his floor spacing, shot creation, and talents as a three-level scorer. 

Both George and Butler would cost the 76ers a pretty penny as George is seeking a max contract and Butler is looking for a hefty contract extension that would pay him $113 million over two years. Both players would be at least 36 years old when their hypothetical contracts would expire, so in this scenario, it’s like picking the lesser of two evils. 

Question #3: If the 76ers don’t trade their 16th overall 2024 draft pick who should they draft? (asked by @AvaSaks123 via X)

It’s well-known that this year’s draft class is much weaker than in years past, especially compared to last summer’s NBA draft featuring Victor Wembanyama.

There’s a lack of a consensus best player in the draft as this class is filled to the brim with players who are projected to be all-stars and high-quality role players rather than superstars/franchise cornerstones. 

With that being said, there’s a series of intriguing prospects that the 76ers could draft if they choose to keep the highest draft pick they’ve had since 2018. Providence junior combo guard Devin Carter is at the top of my list coming into the draft at 6’3 and 195 pounds. 

Carter is a pesky point-of-attack defender who can defend both guards and wings to an extent using his physical frame. Offensively, Carter is capable of knocking down spot-up threes and showed some flashes of self-creation from the perimeter and at the rim.

The Providence guard is projected to be selected in the middle to late section of the first round with comparisons to Derrick White/Marcus Smart type of player, which would be perfect next to Tyrese Maxey in the back-court.

Question #4: Who’s the best center in 76ers history? (asked by @Sam.Rameriz via Instagram)

NBA history is a huge interest/hobby of mine, so I was excited to see this type of question ! Still, this is hard to answer as everyone has their definition/criteria of greatness and ranking players, which is why this is such a subjective topic. 

I heavily value postseason translation, two-way impact, and floor-raising when determining all-time player rankings, which is why I’d pick Wilt Chamberlain.

Before joining the 76ers via trade from the San Francisco Warriors in 1965, Chamberlain was viewed as a selfish player/playoff dropper who only cared about stats. However, the script was flipped as he truly honed in on his playmaking ability and playing in a team concept. 

In the 1966-1967 season, Chamberlain put together what I think was the best season of his career, even without factoring all of the accolades he racked up, including MVP. Chamberlain posted career-highs in efficiency and averaged 24/24/7 while being a top-three defensive player in the league.

In that postseason, Chamberlain’s 76ers went on to beat Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics in five games and eventually took home the title knocking off Chamberlain’s former team, the Warriors, 4-2.

When you consider the fact that Chamberlain peaked as a two-way threat, established himself as the best player in the NBA during this period, and strung together a series of impressive postseason runs where he faced arguably the greatest dynasty in sports, and was able to bring a championship trophy to Philadelphia, it’s hard to argue against Chamberlain.

But… if Joel Embiid were to put together a dominant finals run, then he would take the throne.

Mandatory Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Freshman journalism major at Temple University, NBA/76ers contributor for The Liberty Line, and owner of Sixercountry on Instagram, which has over 40,000 followers. I am aspiring to be a credentialed 76ers reporter and top NBA personality.

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