Philadelphia 76ers 2018 NBA Draft picture post NBA Trade deadline

5 of 11

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 24: Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and General Manager Bryan Colangelo attend a press conference after being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft on June 24, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Philadelphia draft pick.

The Philadelphia 76ers are playing the fence to the max this season. Unintentionally, but still it’s difficult to feel confident with a Philadelphia 76ers team hell-bent on flirting with a .500 record with two-thirds of the season behind us. 53 games in, 29 games to go, the Philadelphia 76ers stand at 28-25, only due in part to a 3-0 run since the Philadelphia Eagles have won the Super Bowl.

And with no Furkan Korkmaz, no Markelle Fultz, and injury and playing limits to both J.J. Redick and Joel Embiid. the team may have simply ended at their best possible situation for this season. But the 76ers are oh-so-close to a better seed right now. Presuming this team cannot catch the Toronto Raptors nor the Boston Celtics, they are are mere 3.5 games behind third place Cleveland. And then Washington Wizards (2.5 games behind, Milwaukee Bucks (2.0 games behind), Indiana Pacers (1.5 games behind) and Miami Heat (.5 games behind).

Mamma mia! Belinelli bench help

The Philadelphia 76ers have improved ever so slightly. Reports are out now that the team will sign shooting guard Marco Belinelli. And his arrival should help the team in depth, bench scoring, and a veteran who can help develop the 76ers younger players. And for all intents and purposes, the current Sixers bench does not have a player like Belinelli. This is the role hoped for Jerryd Bayless, Markelle Fultz, Furkan Korkmaz, and even Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to fil. Someone to give quality minutes behind J.J. Redick. Now, Belinelli gets his chance.

But in the developing lineups and roles, this has an additional benefit of giving J.J. Redick someone to absorb some quality minutes behind him on the team. Redick has played in just 42 of the team’s scheduled 53 games, but he takes on an average of 32.0 minutes for each game. Now with Belinelli, the Philadelphia 76ers can lower that run rate to somewhere at or below 30.0 minutes per game. That should help the team keep Redick on the court and healthy enough for post-season play.

player. 93. . 6-foot-5 210 pounds. Persiceto, Italy ★★★★ . Marco Belinelli. SG

* Highlights
* ESPN
* Basketball Reference
* NBA Stats

Now at 16, the improvements to the team could devalue the 76ers draft pick to 21 by draft day. Disadvantage 76ers (but a playoff bound team)