The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers 2017 NBA Draft Christmas Shopping List

By Bret Stuter

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) poses with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after the 76ers receive the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) poses with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after the 76ers receive the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sixer Sense Christmas 2017 NBA Draft Shopping List For Philadelphia 76ers

While we plow ahead in a 2016-2017 season, and are pleasantly surprised at relatively modest success, the team is courageously improving game by game.  In reality, changes are happening in terms of team experience, upside, and compatibility as happens in professional sports each year. Perhaps now more than ever, the piece de resistance is the 2017 NBA Draft.

And so, the shopping list of what was is no longer the shopping list of what will be.  Heading into the 2015-2016 season, an argument could have been made for the team roster showing deficiencies at each position – even center.

But with the new season comes new revelations. In the grand scheme,  this team is not as desperate for a starting five lineup anymore. Eventually, that could very well make the 2017 NBA Draft all that much more critical. New pieces must be judged ever more carefully for fit now.

Dominoes Effect

If Joel Embiid is the center of the franchise, then Ben Simmons could very well be the point guard of the future.  To that point, as Ben Simmons is the point guard, then rookie Dario Saric can play the power forward role. Even further, as Dario Saric is the power forward, does Robert Covington stay at the small forward? Finally, is the answer for shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Nik Stauskas, of some prospect from the 2017 NBA Draft?

While the team aims at the moving target of the needs of tomorrow’s team, analysts must simultaneously project the talents of current players. This draft will not play out on one note held far above the normal octave, but will instead require the blending symphony of the entire orchestra.

But let’s save the scheme, position, role, and versatility chat for another time.   For now, we are shopping for things this Philadelphia 76ers team could really use.