The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers How much is too much for #1?

By Michael James

Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) takes a shot during warm-ups before the start of a game against the UCLA Bruins at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) takes a shot during warm-ups before the start of a game against the UCLA Bruins at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Markelle Fultz joining the Philadelphia 76ers would be a monumental acquirement. That doesn’t mean the Sixers can give up everything to get him.

How is it possible to feel this torn? There can’t be anyone who doesn’t love the idea of a Fultz-Simmons-Embiid trio. It’s so mouth-watering to think about I’m actually going to have to go get a drink.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

But I also love the Philadelphia 76ers‘ term build. The four first round picks over 2018/19 to add to Simmons, Saric, Covington, Embiid, Jackson/Monk/Fox and Okafor. (Yes, I’m that optimistic. I still believe Okafor could become a Greg Monroe or Zach Randolph bench scorer type. Heck, he did average 18 & 7 on 51 percent shooting in 30 minutes a game as a 19 year old rookie.)

What’s the rush. As Kyrie Irving said after the finals — ‘you can’t skip steps’. He may not have been talking specifically about roster building, but the Sixers have plenty to think about here when they decide how much they should really trade to move up TWO spots in the draft. If either of Simmons or Embiid struggle again injury wise *knock on wood* then giving up the Lakers 2018 pick or the Sacramento 2019 pick could be a hasty move.

Then again, do you really need to end up with four or five franchise guys? The way contracts are at present, combined with the punitive repeater tax, means it’s getting harder and harder to pay more than two guys the max. And the Lakers pick could be 10-14. A potential Sacramento core of Smith Jr (pick 10), Hield, Tatum (pick 5), Labissiere and Cauley-Stein might not even be that bad in a couple of seasons.

You definitely can’t keep going back to the draft indefinitely and holding out hope of landing ‘the next LeBron James’ in guys like Michael Porter Jr, Luka Doncic or Zion Williamson. Players from the lottery don’t pan out every year. It’s early in some of these guys’ careers, but Kris Dunn, Mario Hezonja, Dante Exum, Anthony Bennett and Thomas Robinson have all gone top five in the last five years. There are no guarantees in the draft.

Confused? Maybe not. Perhaps you’re simply in the Go Get Fultz At All Costs camp. I’m talking myself into it. But only for one future first. Or two future firsts, protected 1-3.

If the Sixers can pick first this year whilst holding onto their own pick next year and one of the Lakers ’18 pick or the Kings ’19 pick then you just have to do it.

Related Story: Sixers are in a great position with or without Fultz

If Boston is asking for the, ’18 Lakers and ’18 Philly 1st… well damn, that’s one to debate. For me its a no. Too much. Is the difference between Jackson and Fultz worth two likely lottery picks?

Clearly Boston can’t be too enamoured with Fultz or they wouldn’t even consider moving the pick. After all, only three top picks have ever been traded. Are the Celtics really high on Jackson and confident he’ll be on the board at three? Or are they revisiting trade discussions with Chicago around Jimmy Butler in which case they’d like another asset to pair with this years pick, and feel the 2018 Brooklyn pick is too much? Could they have a secondary deal in mind of pick 3, the 2018 Lakers pick and Jae Crowder for Jimmy Butler?

Even though they are stocked in the guard positions and might prefer another wing, It’s hard to imagine Boston moving down 2 spots just to grab another future pick having just made the Eastern Conference Finals. Why does this matter? Philly needs to think hard about Boston’s own motivation around this deal, because they wouldn’t make it themselves if they don’t 100% think they are winning the trade.

Next: Bryan Colangelo may be looking to make his mark on The Process

I want Fultz. But I don’t want to sell the farm to get him. Hopefully the Sixers brain trust find the middle ground because giving up too much to do this deal could prove more costly than people think. Fultz, Simmons and Embiid really is some sort of a trio. But in 10 months, if Fultz is the only STAR on the court…you hope they still have a pick or two left.