The Sixer Sense
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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 /
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Mar 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after scoring a 3-point basket in the third quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after scoring a 3-point basket in the third quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans

In the 2012 NBA Draft, New Orleans managed to sneak past Cleveland for the first pick, and selected power forward Anthony Davis.  Davis’ appearance helped lift the team from the 21 win season prior to his arrival, to a 27 win season in his rookie season.

The following year, the Pelicans managed 34 wins with Davis leading the team.  In his third season with the team, Davis helped the Pelicans to a 47 win season and an appearance in the playoffs.    Unfortunately, the team was unsuccessful in building a roster around Davis quickly enough, and the team has begun to oscillate between playoff team and out of the playoffs.  The 2015-2016 season ended in disappointment, as the team finished with just 30 wins.

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NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season /

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    • Davis was consistent, scoring 24.4  points per game in the 2014-2015 season and 24.6 points per game in the 2015-2016 season.  But the team itself suffered from no draft picks in both 2013 and 2014, as the team traded center Nerlens Noel to the Philadelphia 76ers for point guard Jrue Holiday.  And so, Davis arrived to a Pelicans team gearing to “win now”, and as a result, missed an incredible opportunity to surround a truly gifted young man with NBA talent which would grow with him.

    Perhaps the team can sieze the window of opportunity, as they drafted shooting guard Buddy Hield and forward Cheick Diallo who are surprisingly the only two players on the Pelicans roster younger than Davis.

    The Pelicans would have been an ideal trading partner early this off-season, as they sorely need front court youth to pair up with Anthony Davis.  An ideal target to help their team would be Jahlil Okafor, whose scoring would flourish paired with Davis, but who would benefit from Davis’ defensive acumen.

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