The Sixer Sense
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The Sixers Big Debate: Development Versus Patience

By Max Holm

Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (R) and center Jahlil Okafor (M) greet Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (L) prior to game action at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (R) and center Jahlil Okafor (M) greet Detroit Pistons forward Stanley Johnson (L) prior to game action at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The front court logjam for the Philadelphia 76ers has been a long topic of discussion, but Bryan Colangelo fully understands the need to be patient.

Ever since Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel lacked promise playing together, the big man debate has become a drawn out saga in Philadelphia. To add to the mess, the Philadelphia 76ers now expect Joel Embiid and Dario Saric to play for the team next season. And in between the optimism for Embiid and the news from Saric, the Sixers drafted LSU’s Ben Simmons.

As if there wasn’t a logjam concern already between just Embiid, Okafor, and Noel. At least Christian Wood did Brett Brown a favor and signed with the Charlotte Hornets (but also good for him).

When you look at the Sixers roster, and we’ll throw in the small forward position as well, there are the following bigs: Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, Jerami Grant, Robert Covington, Carl Landry, and Richaun Holmes. There are only 144 minutes per night for the two forward spots and center.

Now, I threw in small forward into the mix because even if the Sixers trade one of Noel or Okafor, Simmons and/or Saric is going to have to play minutes at small forward. Every minute up front is precious. Holmes is destined to be an energy big who won’t play much if Embiid makes it onto the court. Landry will be the veteran who racks up DNPs. But after that, there still aren’t even close to enough minutes to go around.

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This is the biggest dilemma the Sixers have, but it’s a good one to have because it shows they finally have an abundance of promising young talent. They just happen to all play the same two positions.

Brett Brown knows they don’t have enough minutes. He’s said as much during interviews at Las Vegas Summer League. General manager Bryan Colangelo has uttered the same and added he doesn’t feel comfortable having all three of Noel, Okafor and Embiid to start the year.

And that makes a lot of sense. The two themes of the upcoming season for the Sixers need to be patience and development. But how can the Sixers properly develop their young core if they don’t have enough minutes to let everyone play and improve? That’s why it’s imperative to get rid of one of the trio. That’s what BC is saying. But he also added a very important tidbit:

"“We’re not going to make a bad deal just to make a deal. I think we can be a better basketball team if we can distribute that talent better. Maybe take one of those assets and address other needs on the roster. I think right now it’s best to say we like all of them, we want to see if we can make the most out of each of them.”"

These are very reassuring and logical words from the GM. Patience ties into development, but also when it comes to trades. Of course you want to move one guy to better balance out the roster and allow younger players to get more minutes. But you don’t do that just to make any trade, just for the principle. The Sixers have Jahlil Okafor on a friendly rookie contract and the potential for Noel’s Bird rights. They have all the power. There’s also no telling how either of those young men have or can improve.

It may hurt development and create a mess for Brett Brown to keep everyone heading into the season, but the Sixers should not give up their power and flexibility. If the big man market is dry now, which it’s not as Colangelo says he continues to take calls on his big men, then it will open up at a future date. Reality seems to point closer to the Sixers sitting on offers and waiting for the one they like best.

Philadelphia finds itself with the most cap room of any team with this much young talent and how they got there was patience. Patience will likely yield a nice recoup for one of their big men. But for now, there’s no rush. This is a team that has gotten younger as a core, despite adding veterans in Jerryd Bayless, Sergio Rodriguez, and Gerald Henderson. Next season they’ll have four rookies who should all get minutes in Simmons, Saric, Embiid, and Timothe Luwawu.

Brown’s job becomes nearly impossible if the roster stays as is, especially in terms of getting the most out of those four rookies and his other young players. But as the Sixers wait for a deal they can live with or even one they love, there’s time to experiment.

Let Saric and Simmons defend small forwards and share the floor. Try going super small with one or no center, and then go big with Saric, Simmons and one of their bigs. Try Embiid at both power forward and center. See how Saric operates in Simmons role. Play Simmons without a point guard and let a wing guard that position. The beautiful thing about getting to this point talent wise is the flexibility is gives a coaching staff. These won’t be mindless experiments but rather methodical choices to understand their players strengths and weaknesses and to evaluate whose skills mesh together.

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The Sixers are not in a position to have their cake and eat it too, for now. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs never waltzed into a perfectly balanced roster. It takes time. The results may vary and verge on ugly for stretches, but as long as the group buys in, plays hard, and the staff learn more about their players, the Sixers will be closer to putting together all their puzzle pieces. Maybe by opening night a big has been moved and this all becomes a moot point.  Patience and development are the future, but the former needs to take the drivers seat for now.