The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers NBA draft strategy dilemma

By Bret Stuter

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: Markelle Fultz signs autographs at Champs Sports prior to the draft lottery on May 15, 2017 in New York, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 15: Markelle Fultz signs autographs at Champs Sports prior to the draft lottery on May 15, 2017 in New York, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers land in a very talented 2018 NBA Draft with more picks than open positions. Can the team solve that draft dilemma?

Did you ever know this moment would arrive? Despite all the gym videos, the lofty hopes, the overwhelming optimism from the articles here at the Sixer Sense, the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers had to offset hope with the cold reality of letdown. Throughout 2017, the team flashed post season, intermingled with NBA Draft position, as the goal. The team seemed to get things into focus when 2018 arrived.  Improving from a 17-19 record, the team clicked on their way to the March 10, 2018 record of 36-30. So far, the team is playing at an 19-11 pace.

But here the team is, chugging hard at the last lap and aiming for the ever-elusive playoff spot.  A team with a solid compliment of starters, veterans and developing players. And on that roster are two players, Furkan Korkmaz and Markelle Fultz, who saw next to nothing this season. Those same two players could easily play major roles for the team in 2018-2019.

Roster issues 2018 off season

The team has some roster issues to sort out this off-season, to be certain. Of the 15 players this year, the team has expiring contracts on one starter: J.J. Redick. The team also loses three key bench players to expiring contracts as well: Amir Johnson, Marco Belinelli, and Ersan Ilyasova. So lose four, reclaim two players from injury. So far so good.

Or is it? Behind those expiring contracts are nothing but .. thin air. Neither Markelle Fultz, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, nor Furkan Korkmaz has shown anyone anything close to being ready to assume a starting role on the team in 2018-2019.  And of that group, the same can be said of Belinelli’s backup role.  The team currently has no proven backup for either Joel Embiid nor Dario Saric nor even Robert Covington after this season. But the team has rights to  center Anzejcs Pasecniks, power forward Jonah Bolden, and small forward Mathias Lessort . Let’s consider them each primary backups for the team next season.