The Simmons Saric Embiid Combination

Power Forward / Small Forward / Point Guard

This is another combination that won’t be discussed much in mainstream, but could give the Sixers a huge bump in their lineup. If the team holds onto Jahlil Okafor for center, then you move Joel Embiid out to power forward. Saric slides in at the small forward spot and if you start a rapidly improving Robert Covington at shooting guard, you plop Ben Simmons into the point guard role. No trades, no huge salary cap outlays, three rookies, a sophomore, and a two year veteran.

Will the Sixers do this?  Highly unlikely.  But what a line-up.   With this lineup, the team merely needs to “stand pat” on the roster, avoid rash rushes to wheel and deal, and see first hand just how well the team can excel if the roster is not dealing with injuries, nearly half of the team as new faces, and just focus on playing basketball.

This is not to say the team cannot add veterans, but any additions would be akin to the Elton Brand/Carl Landry genre of seasoned veterans who would mentor younger players in practice and help to coach from the bench, all the while being ready to deliver quality minutes when they take the basketball court.

With either Noel or Okafor at center, the team will either defend well or score a ton of points.   Embiid would be able to exercise his soft hands shooting from the four, and while Saric would be set up against faster small forwards, he would be able to use his size and strength advantage to score mid range.

This would also be a very unique lineup in the NBA, and would give the Sixers an early season advantage as other teams would not be prepared to face so many taller bodies on the floor simultaneously.  This is the most unlikely scenario, but the one I believe would be both effective and entertaining to watch on the floor.

So much is being made of trading players and getting veterans onto this roster, when I think the optimal value is simply understanding and managing the current players.  If the Sixers cannot find free agency talent who would elevate the team, nor willing trade partners, then the team must prepare itself for a pragmatic approach to managing who they have until they no longer do.

As of right now, that is the first round pick, plus two other players debuting in the NBA this year.  How Colangelo manages the Simmons Saric Embiid combination is far more important and will have a  longer reaching impact on this team than any free agent signing or trade he can muster – unless he gets taken to the cleaners immediately out of the gate.

Next: 5 Landing Destinations For Jahlil Okafor

Traditional thinking now leads to traditional places, and with the 76ers at the bottom of the food chain right now, some innovative thought process is warranted.  The Sixers can set up a line up this year which could play together for the next decade or two, improving together each year.  This is the dawning of a new era, Philadelphia.  Let’s hope we get it right.