Developing developing dilemma
So here we are. The team has two players at a minimum slated to arrive in 2018 and will be huge boosts to the roster. But only if the team can develop both Pasecniks and Bolden. So how does the team portion out coaching time and playing time to competing needs of players at differing roles? Historically, the higher pick prospect gets the lion share of the attention.
From this vantage point, that suggests that the team will direct coaching resources to Markelle Fultz, then (if he comes over) Anzejcs Pasecniks, then Furkan Korkmaz. Since Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is completing his second SIxers season, look for the team to expect him to put in the work autonomously. Still, the fact of needs on this roster to get the bench in line before the 2018 NBA season is a tall order. And this developing developing dilemma will not resolve itself easily.
Slow flow
The team will need to work with a minimum of five players next season before any 2018 NBA Draft picks enter the picture. And the team has six picks projected in that draft. Furthermore, the 76ers may not even be looking at a top-10 pick, thanks to the surprising record of the Los Angeles Lakers. That means the team will likely select two first round draft picks outside of the top-10. As you know, the further down the pick, the likely greater need for coaching to prepare the prospect for NBA play.
Next: Markelle Fultz vs. the Philadelphia 76ers
The team has used a draft-and-stash method extensively under President Bryan Colangelo, and that will certainly continue in the 2018 NBA Draft under the current circumstances. But that delays player development even further. In the end, the Philadelphia 76ers are no longer a team boasting rapid development of NBA prospects. But let’s hope that is all at stake. With so much investment in young players for the foreseeable future, the team still has a stellar reputation for getting the most out of their younger players. Let’s ensure the team maintains that expertise, however long it takes.