NBA Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers Winning Battle Of Wills

Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) and center Jahlil Okafor (8) celebrate a score against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) and center Jahlil Okafor (8) celebrate a score against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 21, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo watch a game against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 110-93. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo watch a game against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 110-93. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Mutually Beneficial

As 76ers fans have discovered, NBA Trades only happen between teams who believe they have obtained more value then they have given.  That’s not an easy thing to do.

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You see, early in the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were eager to turn the corner. Shedding an extra center for back court help would have been both timely and welcomed.

But now? The team is winning without Ben Simmons and with partial play from Joel Embiid.  Two of the players on the team’s best lineup (T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington) were undrafted, and a third player (Nik Stauskas) was abandoned one year after being drafted.  None of the trio were high on any NBA team’s list.  But after this season, many may be.

But it illustrates the 76ers’ challenge. NBA teams live “in the moment” while the Philadelphia 76ers had sought tomorrow’s value. Until this season, it worked out well.  Teams dumped salary upon the 76ers, and Philadelphia charged draft picks.

But now the polarity is reversed. Now NBA teams are trying to value good players on a bad team. Most have balked at the opportunity.  Of the few who have entered into serious discussions, many have offered far below the 76ers asking price.