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; Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 131-114. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Wayne Ellington (21) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Nets won 131-114. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

What If the Sixers Copied the Nets’ Rebuild Part 3

The third major change would be the player the Sixers selected with the 11th pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Included in the Sixers’ $46.1 million salary is Michael Carter-Williams‘ rookie contract, but the Sixers probably wouldn’t take MCW in this scenario, because they already have a starting point guard in Holiday.

Based on the players picked after MCW in the 2013 draft, the Sixers would draft Steven Adams, Kelly Olynyk, or Shabazz Muhammad. While in hindsight the best choice would be Giannis Antetokounmpo (picked 15th) or Rudy Gobert (picked 27th), both players were viewed to have a higher chance of being out of the NBA in five years than being important parts of their teams’ future when they were drafted, so the three previously mentioned players would have been initially viewed as the better choice.

This version of the Sixers ended up drafting Muhammad, because based on this scouting report by sbnation.com, he would have been seen as having the most upside among three players despite glaring issue with his play style and the Sixers are committed to giving Bynum another chance to be their star and wouldn’t feel the need to draft his replacement.

Next: What if Sixers Copied the Nets Rebuild Part 4