The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Fans Ask: How Much Longer?

By Bret Stuter

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Can’t Compare To Cleveland

The first selections of the 2014 NBA Draft, of the 2013 NBA Draft, and of the 2011 NBA Draft were all made by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  In fact, since the great forward Lebron James decided to forego the city of Cleveland Ohio and chase championships as a member of the Miami Heat, the Cavaliers only failed to score the top draft pick of the NBA draft just once.  James did an about face, returning to the city he left just four years later.

The odds of that happening are very remote indeed.  The odds of the free agent who left the team in shambles returning are even more remote.

More from The Sixer Sense

In 2011, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected point guard Kyrie Irving, who proceeded to lead the team in scoring enroute to a 21 win season.  The following year, the Cavaliers selected fourth, adding shooting guard Dion Waiters to the back court to pair up with Irving.  That season, the team was led once more by Irving to a 24-58 season.  The next year, with the first pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers missed by selecting power forward Anthony Bennett.  Bennett never started for the Cavaliers, and would only average 12.8 minutes per game in just 52 appearances that year.
Despite the setback, the Cavaliers did manage 33 wins that season.   In 2014, the Cavaliers selected Andrew Wiggins with the number one pick, and proceeded to trade him to the Timberwolves for power forward Kevin Love.

Simultaneously, the team managed to resign free agent small forward Lebron James. With the infusion of two star caliber players, the Cavaliers sprung skyward, finishing the season with 53 wins.

Of the four years without James, the team enjoyed the top draft pick three years.  Of that group, one now plays for the team (Irving), one was used as a bargaining chip (Wiggins), and one failed to achieve his perceived potential (Bennett).  There is not direct comparison possible, since the Philadelphia 76ers will likely not find themselves picking first in the NBA draft for some time, nor will the team suddenly see an arrival of an elite player when the team hits 33 wins in a season.

Still, even without Lebron James arrival, the team had climbed to 33 wins from the scorched earth beginnings , similar to the 76ers scenario. Perhaps that indirect comparison is enough, for now.

Next: New Orleans