The Sixer Sense
Fansided

If league expansion happens, who should the Sixers keep?

By Christopher Kline

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 9: Robert Covington #33, Markelle Fultz #20 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during practice as part of the 2018 NBA London Global Game at Citysport on January 9, 2018 in London, England. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 9: Robert Covington #33, Markelle Fultz #20 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during practice as part of the 2018 NBA London Global Game at Citysport on January 9, 2018 in London, England. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 9: Robert Covington #33, Markelle Fultz #20 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during practice as part of the 2018 NBA London Global Game at Citysport on January 9, 2018 in London, England. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

If the NBA were to add more teams, who should the Philadelphia 76ers protect in an expansion draft?

Expansion has been a topic of debate in recent years, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver dubbing it “inevitable“. Assuming Seattle is the primary target, the league would undergo significant roster shifts in an effort to add two teams to the fold (one in the East to balance the conferences).

Our friends at Valley of the Suns recently brought up the question: Who should the Suns protect in the event of an expansion draft? We’re going to apply that same question to the Philadelphia 76ers, playing by the same rules. Each team gets to protect eight players, leaving the others up for grabs.

The Sixers find themselves in an interesting spot. They’re competitive, but they’re also building with an eye toward the future. The importance of immediate production and long-term upside is something the front office would have to weigh in their decision-making process.

For our intents and purposes, we’ll act as though the rookie draft has already occurred. That makes all the Sixers draft picks — Zhaire Smith, Landry Shamet and Shake Milton — eligible for saving and/or departure.

Although the trade isn’t official yet, we’ll also assume that Mike Muscala has joined the roster while Justin Anderson and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot are no longer with the team. Here is the full 15-man roster:

Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, J.J. Redick, Markelle Fultz, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Amir Johnson, Zhaire Smith, Landry Shamet, T.J. McConnell, Furkan Korkmaz, Jerryd Bayless, Jonah Bolden + Shake Milton