The Philadelphia 76ers are just a day away from making their regular season debut, which would mark what everyone hopes to be a big bounce-back campaign from the team. People are divided about what to feel about this group, but if there is one thing clear, it is that this squad is talented enough to make everyone seem foolish when it is all said and done.
But away from the proverbial motherhood statements that can be said of every team in the league before the season begins, the 76ers are, in reality, still riddled with red flags. We need not belabor ourselves with the stellar degree of injury concerns with this group. That has become a way of life for this franchise. We are talking about the glaring issues still persisting yet unheeded by the front office.
Two of the biggest concerns with this team are three-point shooting and perimeter defense. Last season, the 76ers ranked near the bottom in those departments, and they have no shot of returning to contention if they cannot mitigate those flaws. It's pretty straightforward.
To make matters worse, this team actually had the perfect role player who could have helped address those areas, although in true 76ers fashion, the team quickly gave up on him. Enter Julian Champagnie, who is now thriving with the Spurs.
The 76ers should have never let go of Julian Champagnie
During the 2022-23 season, the 76ers picked Champagnie off the undrafted players pool. However, he ended up appearing in just two games for Philly and spending most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats, the team's G-League affiliate.
In the middle of the season, the 76ers waived him, although San Antonio quickly picked him up. Since then, he has emerged as one of their most important role players. Standing at 6'7", Champagnie could have been the ideal, low-maintenance role player for the squad, especially given his skill set.
A high-volume three-point shooter who can more than hold his own defensively, Champagnie is your prototypical three-and-D wing/forward who can play and guard multiple positions. Even better, he is on a wildly discounted deal, making him one of the best value players in the entire association.
Watching him flourish with the Spurs, it becomes more apparent that the 76ers, especially those decision-makers in the front office belonging to the previous regime, definitely missed out on developing young players until their recent emergence on that front.