The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Ranking the 5 most important offseasons in Philadelphia 76ers history

Stuart London|
Philadelphia 76ers Logo (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for PGD Global)
Philadelphia 76ers Logo (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for PGD Global)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 31: Moses Malone #2 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates following Game Four of the NBA Finals played against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 31, 1983 at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. Philadelphia defeated Los Angeles 115-108 and won the series 4-0. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1983 NBAE (Photos by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 31: Moses Malone #2 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates following Game Four of the NBA Finals played against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 31, 1983 at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. Philadelphia defeated Los Angeles 115-108 and won the series 4-0. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1983 NBAE (Photos by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images)

5. 1982 — Fo, fo, fo

Since 1976 and the signing of Julius ‘Dr. J ‘Erving, the 76ers had been one of the premier teams in the NBA. The only thing they had not done was win a championship. Three times they had lost in the finals and once in the Eastern Conference finals.

To Sixers fans, the old advertising campaign, “We owe you one” rang quite true. They were tired of being the bridesmaid. This team owed them.

In the 1982 offseason, general manager Pat Williams and new owner Harold Katz were looking to get the team over the hump.

First, they decided to break up the gang who had just helped the Sixers reach the NBA finals (where they lost to the Lakers).

Among those who got tossed were center Darryl Dawkins, forward Steve Mix, guard Lionel Hollins and, on September 15, center-forward Caldwell Jones was traded to the Houston Rockers, along with a draft pick, for Moses Malone.

Malone was a future Hall of Famer and he gave the Sixers the inside scoring and rebounding skills they had lacked going against the likes of Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish in the playoffs.

After years of playoff failure, Sixers fans were a bit concerned entering the 1983 playoffs. However, when Malone was asked for his playoff prediction he did not hold back: “Fo, fo, fo” he said in his soft Virginia twang.

Malone was predicting the 76ers would sweep all three playoff series. He ended up off by one, as the Milwaukee Bucks took a game in the Eastern Conference finals. Sixer fans were quite happy with Fo, Five and Fo though.

Adding some extra toughness, Williams also signed free agent Marc Iavaroni. He became the Sixers starting power forward and, although not the most skilled, his presence allowed Bobby Jones to come off the bench and relieved Erving from having to bang inside.

This offseason would be ranked higher except the Sixers got almost nothing in return for unloading the other big names and they gave up some valuable first-round draft picks (which turned into long-time pros Rodney McCray and Mitchell Wiggins)

The offseason moves got them the title but doomed them in the future to commit a trade of legendary abomination (see No. 3).