The Sixer Sense
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Sixers going all-in on young core

By Ben Wieland

CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

By avoiding any major trades or signings, the Philadelphia 76ers prove they want to win with their own young core — but are they good enough?

LeBron James eschewed opportunities to grow his ring collection, cement his legacy, and perhaps overtake His Airness himself to satisfy his family, start his production company, and perhaps begin an early retirement.

Kawhi Leonard’s hive-mind of his uncle’s friends decided that the two-way superstar would be playing in Los Angeles next season, and agreed that Kawhi wouldn’t set foot on the court for another team.

Paul George won a victory for small market teams everywhere by proving that loyalty still exists in the NBA. He passed on the chance to head home to Los Angeles and chase titles with LeBron,  instead deciding to remain with his friend and former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. (In unrelated news, DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Warriors for the mid-level exception.)

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All three of these stellar small forwards had the chance to come team up with the East’s up-and-comers, help bear the fruit of the Process, and have their name live in Philadelphia 76ers  sports history. All three declined.

Now, the Philadelphia 76ers are stuck with no one. Well, if “no one” includes Hakeem Olajuwon 2.0 (now with a working three!), the best Australian point guard in the NBA (sorry, Kyrie), and a soon-to-be-sharpshooting, freakishly athletic shooting guard for when the other two All-Stars have off nights.

But in today’s NBA, where loyalty is a thing of the past and superteams are in vogue, will the Sixers’ young core be enough? If not, what do these three young studs need to improve to compete with the upper echelon of NBA superteams.