The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Okay With Los Angeles 2018 Unprotected First Round Pick

By Bret Stuter

Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and forward Dario Saric (9) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and forward Dario Saric (9) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 118-116, many fear the Lakers pick will not convey in a very robust 2017 NBA Draft. Fear not, 2018 may be better year for that pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers have not been a very successful team for the past four years. In fact, in the topsy-turvy world of the NBA “have-not” teams huddle around the television for the NBA Lottery. That lottery determines the draft order of many teams, and even which teams will be selecting in the following NBA Draft.  For the past four years, that has been the only light in the dark trails navigated by the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers.

But that was then and this is now.  Or so it seems.  The Philadelphia 76ers are now 24-42, conceivably challenging the 30 win mark this season, and are pulling themselves out of the NBA basement.  It had to happen.  We knew it would happen.  But now that it is happening, there is a sense of riding a bicycle without training wheels.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 118-116 in a game that many fans saw as an opportunity to improve the 76ers 2017 NBA Draft position.  In fact, the responses to me after the victory were less celebratory.  Some were indignant that the team chose to compete in a game with more incentive to lose.  Others bypassed all that and asked about the Draft implications.

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Important Step Forward

But the victory was an important step for these Philadelphia 76ers. Important in that the team is without three sure-fire starters in Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jerry Bayless. In fact, the team has played without Bayless and Simmons all season. Joel Embiid played his last game on January 27, 2017.

But without Embiid, the team is on the flying trapeze without a safety net.  Right now, the only thing buoying the team is the stubbornness of Dario Saric, the fearlessness of T.J. McConnell, the defense of Robert Covington, and the rejuvenation of Jahlil Okafor.

And that is more important for this team than a 2017 NBA Draft pick, or rather, than getting the pick sooner rather than later.