The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Locker Room Not All Fun Games

By Bret Stuter

Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Which Way Is Up?

Now it’s up to the Philadelphia 76ers to do what businesses do, cut their losses. Noel, the center who offers so very much as an NBA rim protector, has forced the team’s hand.  Was that his plan all along? Perhaps not, but the situation is a blazing bridge right now.

And the arsonist is not Noel, Noel’s agent or Brown. Noel is completely frustrated. Brown is trying to manage the issue in the best way possible.

But the fire was ignited in the off-season, when newly hired president Bryan Colangelo told the NBA that the team had too many centers. In fact, he did everything but guarantee that the team would trade one before the season. Now the team is a week from Christmas. And now he stands there, with a pack of matches and a gasoline can.

This team is built for slow improvement. But perhaps that is too long in the minds of father and son Colangelo.  While the window was open to deal this off-season, no deal was made.