The Sixer Sense
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Bryan Colangelo Can Learn From The Western Conference Finals

By Tom Ignudo

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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The NBA Playoffs Place the NBA Best onto Center Stage. This is the Perfect Opportunity for Bryan Colangelo to study NBA Championship play

As the Golden State Warriors overcame a 3-1 series deficit and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals, Philadelphia 76ers‘ general manager Bryan Colangelo most likely was watching.

But Colangelo wasn’t only watching as a fan, he analyzed the strengths of Golden State and Oklahoma City; how each of their rosters were constructed and what type of resources were invested in order to make a run to the Western Conference Finals.

It may have not been obvious to many people or fans, however, this year’s Western Conference Finals featured two team’s the 76ers can model their rebuild after.

In recent years, the NBA has gone point guard heavy with Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and others dominating the game with their abilities to create space and separate themselves to make shots.

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Many believe the 76ers should replicate what many teams around the league have done at the point guard position and invest in one who can flat out score.

But, in order to do that, Colangelo would have to pull the trigger on some trades many believe to be foolish.

One would be to ship out Jahlil Okafor to the Boston Celtics for the third overall pick and possibly a guard like Marcus Smart or Avery Bradley.

Then with third overall pick what would Colangelo do? Do you draft Jamal Murray out of the University of Kentucky, who averaged 20 points per game and shot 40 percent from three? Or maybe even Buddy Hield out of Oklahoma University, who made the the most three point field goals in the NCAA.

Providence guard Kris Dunn also would be available, however, his outside shooting isn’t as polished as Murray or Hield.

By selecting Brandon Ingram out of Duke University with the first overall pick and acquiring the third overall pick from the Celtics to select Murray, the 76ers would add two players who can provide an immediate impact on offense.

Add Dario Saric to that mix, and you have a possible starting five featuring three players who shot 40 percent or better from three in college or in the Euro League.

That plan models the Warriors’ build for long-lasting success—to stack your roster with as many players who can hit it from deep as possible.

In game seven of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors hit 10 more threes than the Thunder. The Warriors also made 47 threes, while the Thunder made 23 threes in the three games they won to win the series.

Or, Colangelo, could decide to keep the team big to provide a more dominant scoring presence inside the paint and on the block.

If the 76ers select Ben Simmons, the 6-10, 240 pound point guard/forward out of LSU, his vision and passing skills would complement Okafor, Nerlens Noel and possibly Joel Embiid this upcoming season.

Not only would it benefit the bigs, but shooters like Robert Covington and Nik Stauskas could potentially see upgrades in their game with Simmons running the offense.

76ers’ head coach, Brett Brown, has said many times that he wants to hit the open threes in transition. And with Simmons, who can grab rebounds and immediately start the break, he could provide that feature to the offense.

About a third of Simmons’ assists came while in transition last year at Baton Rouge.

Simmons, if selected, would then model the Thunder’s plan, which was to select the best player available and build around him.

Both options are appealing. Colangelo still has three weeks to decide the fate of the 76ers’ franchise.

Next: NBA Draft Scouting Report Dejounte Murray

As the general manager of the Toronto Raptors in 2006, he selected center/power forward Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick.

Who will he select this time?