As Philadelphia 76ers Improve, Free Agency Becomes An Option

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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum speaks during the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum speaks during the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

But What About The Draft?

Twenty wins for the Philadelphia 76ers from a one win thirty loss start?   Yes, with their current trajectory, that is where they will end up.  That is not a playoff team, but its enough to thwart the hopeful wishes of a fan base who see the only prize from three miserable seasons as the first draft pick in the 2016 NBA draft.   Anything else will feel like a failure. But is it really?

Sam Hinkie is many things, but it takes a total omission of facts to believe he is not prepared for some success for the Sixers this season. You see, he is not relying upon the draft position of the Philadelphia 76ers in this 2016 NBA draft. He has combined the draft position of the Sixers with the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Golden State Warriors.

The Sixers have their own first round draft pick, but can exchange that pick with the pick of the Sacramento Kings, if they have a better draft position. That translates into a combination of odds when it comes to the NBA draft.  It also helps if the Sixers continue to improve, as they will eventually risk falling out of the top five draft selections.   If Sacramento hits the lottery for a better pick, the Sixers simply exercise the right and switch places.

Secondly, the Los Angeles Lakers pick is ours if it falls out of the top three. Even if the Lakers finish last in the NBA, the Sixers still have a 35.7% chance of getting their pick.   That’s better than a one in three chance of getting the fourth pick in the NBA draft.

It would take a complete free fall of either the Miami Heat or the Oklahoma City Thunder to avoid surrendering their draft picks to the Sixers.  So as of right now, even if the Sixers tear up the second half of this NBA season, they have three first round draft picks to rely upon.  Will they use them all, or consider packaging them for a trade up?  It’s something that the team will consider.

Next: 2016 Roster