NBA executives praised the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason pivot in a recent ESPN survey.
With Kawhi Leonard in L.A. and Russell Westbrook in Houston, the offseason is (for the most part) dead. Now it’s time to look toward next season, predicting which moves will pan out and which moves will fall flat. In a recent ESPN survey, anonymous NBA executives offered their opinions.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps asked various questions, ranging from the best offseason move to the worst offseason move. The Philadelphia 76ers, while not focal points, popped up on a few occasions. The reviews were positive.
When executives were asked which move they liked the most, Philadelphia’s acquisition of Al Horford and Josh Richardson was tied for second. It only trailed the Clippers’ acquisition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the disparity being understandably vast.
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One Western Conference scout praised the Sixers’ pivot — seamlessly moving on from Jimmy Butler and amassing a championship-contending roster.
"“With Jimmy walking, to be able to scramble around and get Tobias [Harris], Josh, Horford … I think they made something out of a tough situation. They couldn’t bring back both [Butler and Harris]. They weren’t good enough.”"
An Eastern Conference assistant coach took things one step further, lauding the Sixers’ talent level.
"“I think they’ve got the most talent. I think they’re huge. I think those guys are going to be better.”"
Those are both notable quotes. Philadelphia’s talent and size are wholly unique, with no team in the NBA possessing comparable length and physicality in the starting five. The Sixers will bulldoze certain matchups — aiming to exploit mismatches inside and attack smaller defenders.
While losing a top-15 player in Butler hurts, the Sixers were able to add two top-50 players in Horford and Richardson. The latter is far younger than Butler, a more consistent defender and a more willing 3-point shooter. All those things benefit Philadelphia.
When asked which moves were most surprising, executives pinned the Horford signing in the top spot, tied with the D’Angelo Russell-to-Golden State maneuver. Both were shocking for different reasons — Horford a perennial All-Star joining a division rival, Russell a first-time All-Star replacing Kevin Durant in Golden State.
It’s worth noting the Kawhi/PG13 moves were omitted in an effort to keep votes interesting.
After another hectic offseason, the Sixers find themselves in a familiar position. The team is loaded with talent, ready to compete and oddly constructed. Brett Brown will once again have the challenge of making unique pieces cohesively function.
It appears as though NBA executives have some degree of confidence in Philadelphia, as well as praise for Brand’s knack for big-time moves. If the Sixers play their cards right, a championship could be the end result.