The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why the Philadelphia 76ers’ process continues

By Michael Bronson

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Markelle Fultz walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: Markelle Fultz walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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While it’s tempting to view the Philadelphia 76ers adding Markelle Fultz to a core of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as the conclusion of the process started by Sam Hinkie, the process isn’t truly complete until they win a title.

The drafting of Markelle Fultz completed act one of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ process. I say act one, because there is still so many ways the story that was conceived and outlined by Sam Hinkie but ultimately will be directed by Bryan Colangelo could go. Just like most movies, TV shows, and books act one is all about introducing the main characters, and after seasons of looking, Fultz, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons have finally been cast in the lead roles.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

The idea of the process has always been up for interpretation, but viewing it as a three-act story is probably the best way to explain the process. If act one was getting the Embiid, Simmons, and Fultz, then act two is building a team around them that has the potential to make it to the NBA Finals. This story would then hopefully be concluded in act three when they beat the Western Conference team to become NBA champions. Any future championships could be considered sequels to a completed process.

Entering the 2015-16 season the Minnesota Timberwolves completed the first act of their process after drafting Karl-Anthony Towns to complete a core with Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins. The Timberwolves went on to win 29 out of 82 games and made almost no improvements the following season winning 31 out of 51 games.

The core that was suppose to bring the Timberwolves to the promise land was blown up during the 2017 NBA draft when the Timberwolves traded Kris Dunn, LaVine, and the seventh pick to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Bulter and the 16th pick. While adding Bulter should ensure the Timberwolves make the playoffs in the upcoming season, the Timberwolves basically spent two seasons unable to get pass the first chapter in the second act of their process. Towns (21 years old) and Wiggins (22 years old) are yet to reach their peak, so it’s still possible that the Timberwolves reach act three after the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant led dynasty is over.

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The same cannot be said about the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers completed the first act of their process when they traded for Chris Paul early in the 2011-12 season to complete a core of Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. While the Clippers made the playoffs all six seasons their core played together, they only advanced to the second round of the playoffs three times and never made it any further.

The Clippers’ process stalled in act two and they were forced into a position where the team could no longer improve, so their process was completed despite it never getting to the third act. Trading Paul to the Houston Rockets was an admission that their process has failed despite having the most successful era in the franchise’s history.

While history waits to write about the success or failure of the Timberwolves’ process and is almost finished burying the corpse that is the Clippers’ process, it has already written the Warriors’ process as a huge success. Act one of the Warriors’ process was completed when they drafted Draymond Green in the 2012 NBA draft to join Curry and Klay Thompson as their core. Picked 35th overall Green wasn’t expected to be part of the Warriors’ core, but the Warriors made the playoffs every season the three of them were together and won the NBA championship two seasons after Green’s draft. Andre Iguadala was the only major free agent signing the Warriors made during this time period and that was after the 2012-13 season when the Warriors advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Next: Potential free agency targets for the Sixers in 2018

This is an exciting time to be a Sixers’ fan, but the team shouldn’t rush to make a big move by giving a free agent a big contract that is any longer than two years. Next season should be about evaluating how Fultz, Simmons, and Embiid work together and nothing more. Obviously it would be great to make the playoffs, and if a trade presents itself that allows the Sixers to trade for a good player that doesn’t involve giving up Fultz, Simmons, Embiid, the chance of getting the top pick in the 2018 draft with the Los Angeles Lakers’ pick, and the chance of getting the top pick in the 2019 draft with the Sacramento Kings’ pick, they should do the trade without hesitation. While the days of tanking are over, the process continues.