The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers aim at playoffs and 2018 NBA Draft

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 23: The Philadelphia 76ers host a post draft press conference announcing new players Anzejs Pasecniks, Markelle Fultz, Jonah Bolden and Mathias Lessort at the Sixers Training Complex on June 23, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo Joins Philadelphia 76ers as Special Advisor to Managing General Partner and Chairman of Basketball Operations along side Owner Josh Harris and General Manager Sam Hinkie prior to the Philadelphia 76ers against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 7: Hall of Famer Jerry Colangelo Joins Philadelphia 76ers as Special Advisor to Managing General Partner and Chairman of Basketball Operations along side Owner Josh Harris and General Manager Sam Hinkie prior to the Philadelphia 76ers against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center on December 7, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2015 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Turn the page

And finally, this team is coming to the end of the stockpile of picks and salary cap space from the former general manager Sam Hinkie.  Other NBA fans do not understand why Philadelphia 76ers fans continue to mention him. In a nutshell, no other general manager elevated an entire organization from analytics to players to support staff to draft picks to salary cap space to training facility like Sam Hinkie did. The 76ers simply did not have anything to rebuild with.  No picks. No cap space. Nothing in the pipeline.

When he left, the Philadelphia 76ers had Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, enroute to the first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, multiple first round picks in 2016, and multiple first round picks with protections, swaps, and other leveraged factors for the foreseeable future. Now, that future is nearing the present.  That means the team will no longer have options to choose from the top talent of the NBA draft.

Tweaking roster going forward

The Philadelphia 76ers won’t be able to just cut multiple players. Now the energies dedicated to the NBA Draft will soon be aimed at the salary cap and planing to keep the core players on the roster, while filling roster spots with affordable talent. That is an entirely different skillset folks. And it’s far less entertaining to the fans familiar with the wellspring of renewed optimism in each new NBA Draft class.

Now the team will follow the travels of perennial powerhouses like the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, and other upper tiered teams who power the new season with familiar players. The Philadelphia 76ers, with the first season with Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, are a solid playoff team. Imagine years down the road when they are all at their prime?