Bryan Colangelo Continues Tapping European Basketball

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Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Wiser, not smarter

Now in Philly, Colangelo is attempting to augment the team with European talent. Will it work? Well, you can’t fault what he started with.

Former president Sam Hinkie stored away NBA treasures for Colangelo. When Bryan Colangelo looks at the Philadelphia 76ers, he does not see a veteran Chris Bosh needing veterans to synch in with.

He has Ben Simmons to build around. He has Joel Embiid to build around. Add Dario Saric to the list of players build around. He has Jahlil Okafor to build around. He even has Nerlens Noel to build around.

The job just became phenomenally easier for him.

When he was building in Toronto, he already had three year veteran standout power forward Chris Bosh to build upon. That forced him to target the second contract players – players who emerged from their rookie salary seeking sun fun and moolah. In Toronto, Colangelo could only guarantee the moolah.

In Philadelphia, the team is growing the players around the cornerstone. Choose a player and build around him. Colangelo learned in Toronto that the spine of the team must be drafted, hard-working players who will assume leadership of the team. Until Simmons, Embiid, Saric and more are in their fourth season, Colangelo simply needs to reinforce them with veterans of high caliber.

Next: The Next Wave Of Euroleague