The Sixer Sense
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Comparing the Philadelphia 76ers’ Rebuild to the Nets’ Rebuild

By Michael Bronson

Mar 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) reaches for the ball as Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) defends during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 131-114. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) reaches for the ball as Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) defends during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 131-114. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Hollis Thompson (31) dunks during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Hollis Thompson (31) dunks during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

What If the Sixers Copied the Nets’ Rebuild Conclusion

The Sixers would enter the 2013-14 season with a starting lineup of Jrue Holiday at point guard, O.J. Mayo at shooting guard, Evan Turner at small forward, Josh Smith at power forward, and Andrew Bynum at center.

This is a roster that should make both national and local media figures that hated what Hinkie did to the team proud. No one can look at that roster and all the draft picks that were sacrificed to make it and accuse the Sixers of “kicking the can down the road” or refusing to “land the plane.” While this version of the Sixers would avoid the extreme criticism and would win more games than Hinkie’s Sixers, they would be a complete train wreck, would probably never make the playoffs in any of the three seasons after this team was put together, and would leave the Sixers as a franchise in a significantly worse position than they are today.

Holiday missed several games due to injury during the 2013-14 and 14-15 seasons, Bynum only played 26 games during the 2013-14 season and hasn’t played in an NBA game since, Smith’s production instantly declined once he left the Hawks and he hasn’t been the same player since, and Mayo was part of a Bucks team that was worse than the Sixers during the 2013-14 season and is now suspended for violating the NBA’s drug policy.

Next: Which Team Has the Brighter Future