Philadelphia 76ers President Bryan Colangelo focus on winning today
By Bret Stuter
2018 NBA Draft status?
The reason this is a topic now as the Philadelphia 76ers race to their first playoffs since the 2011-2012 season is the 2018 off-season. The fact that the team is sitting on six picks for that 2018 NBA Draft is already quite the dilemma. Two first round picks and four second round picks would indicate that this team is building for the future. But is it?
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In the actions of recent transactions, the future is now. However you see the team, whether you believe the team is winning tomorrow or today, the front office is set on winning today. I believe the team needs to back up center Joel Embiid as soon as possible. Doing so means that the team would recall Anzejs Pasecniks from the Euroleague for the 2018-2019 season. But the comments on that story made me rethink. What if Bryan Colangelo aims once more at veterans?
Free agents in 2018 offseason are a compelling argument
One player named is Atlanta Hawks reserve center Dewayne Dedmon, a 7-foot-0 245 pound center who has NBA experience and has a player option to remain with the 28th place Atlanta Hawks for his last contract year. And it makes sense in several ways. Colangelo keeps players overseas as assets (or trading chips) as he signs another wave of veterans to the team for short-duration contracts.
Related Story: Philadelphia 76ers need C Anzejs Pasecniks for 2018-2019 season
In the 2017 NBA Draft, the team emerged with six picks. Two were sold outright, three were stashed overseas, and the top-pick of the draft was effectively redshirted. That same pattern happened in the 2016 NBA Draft, with one stashed overseas, the top-pick redshirted, and the 22nd pick has been in semi-limbo with the team. Is there any reason to expect a sudden change in the track record? If all things hold (as they appear to), the team will sell two picks, and draft four international players to be stashed in the Euroleague. The additions to the 2018 team will consist of recalling a player or two from the Euroleague and signing free agents.