The Sixer Sense
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Lakers and Kings Dictate 2017 NBA Draft Of Philadelphia 76ers

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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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Pour Me A Cold Draft

After a hot 2016 free agency in the NBA, the 2017 NBA Draft will seem almost anti-climatic.  It’s still too early to project the record of NBA teams, but that will happen in the coming weeks.  But we can focus on three teams.

With the addition of Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot this season, and with the point guard satisfied in the hands of T.J. McConnell and newly acquired Jerryd Bayless, much of the bad luck which plagued the Philadelphia 76ers last season will already be dashed aside.

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    • While the team will be working minute restrictions and alternative game playing Joel Embiid, they will get production from him – something absent from the past two years.  That contribution will allow the team to focus more intensely on the best use of Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel, even if that means a sixth man role.  Saric and Simmons will upgrade the teams offense by kick-starting the transition fast breaks.  And even Luwawu will get some minutes shooting from the arc.

    The Philadelphia 76ers will finish with 25-30 wins.

    Meanwhile the Lakers will not be as lucky.  The retirement of Kobe Bryant was only partially addressed with the addition of Deng.  The NBA worst offense became no better. I can see the Lakers finishing with 20-25 wins.

    At the Sacramento Kings, the opposite is happening.  Their NBA worst defense improved slightly, but their offense has eroded with the loss of key players and the influx of rookies.  I see the Kings with 25-28 wins.

    If this all plays out, and it’s a long shot since rosters have yet to be finalized and players meshed in practice, the Philadelphia 76ers could be picking twice in the top ten, even if they fall out of the lottery.  Philadelphia will be an improving team with a constant annual stream of new talent.

    Next: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot Is Officially A Philadelphia 76er

    For now?  We simply need to be patient enough to let it happen.