It's been a little more than 3 weeks since my last post and, while I've been lost in retail mayhem, the season continues on and Sixer losses have begun to pile up. So no specific game analysis for now, (That has to wait until January. I barely have time to watch basketball, let alone write on it.) Let's just talk about the team, the draft, trade stuff, and then we'll all sing and go home.
1. A quick peek at the standings
The 76ers are currently 7-18, which is the third worst record in the NBA, but the 76ers have been much worse than that if you can imagine. At one point (5 weeks ago) the Sixers boasted a 5-4 record and were the darlings of the league. Since that point a 2-14 flameout has put them right where they were expected to be when the season started. Things don't appear to be improving any time soon, and with 7 of the next 8 games on the road, the Sixers are likely to be dead last in the NBA three weeks from now. To make things a bit bleaker, the Sixers are likely to soon jump into the trade market, likely giving away some of their top performers in an effort to accumulate future draft picks and young players. One last note, the Sixers are in Milwaukee on December 21 in a battle of the two worst teams in the east. The loser of this one will be in pole position in the race for the number one selection in this year's draft.
2. A quick peek at the swirling trade winds
There have a bunch of rumors lately about the Sixers and possible trades, all of them seem to involve at least one of four players; Thad Young, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Omer Asik
- Omer Asik. If the Sixers traded for Asik, it wouldn't be to keep him around long term, I think it would be to give him 30 minutes a night so he can show that he is still a defensive force, and then to flip him for something else. The strongest rumor I have read suggests Thad for Asik, basically straight up. Houston probably doesn't love this deal, but they are the ones who set up the Asik trade to function as an auction of sorts, claiming they would take the best offer available to them before/on December 19th. I have to imagine that Asik holds more trade value than Thaddeus Young, but if Houston is committed to moving Asik by the 19th, and Thad is the best offer they get, then it makes sense for Houston to pull the trigger. (If only to get Thad into the lineup right away and start the team playing together ASAP to prepare for playoff time.) For the Sixers, they would have exchanged a C+ trade chip for a B+ chip in return.
- Evan Turner. Evan Turner trade rumors are many, but only a few of these would seem plausible. Evan is most often mentioned in trade scenarios that could be most kindly described as wishful thinking by Sixer fans. ET for Dion Waiters seems to fit this bill. While this rumor has been making the rounds since the supposed Waiter/Irving fight led to Dion Waiters being shopped around the league, I can't imagine the Cavs would go for this one.
- Thad Young. Thad comes up a lot, but I don't get it. If I were a GM I'm not sure why I would trade anything of value for Thad when Derrick Williams just got traded for nothing. If they could turn Thad into Asik, before turning Asik into something else, I would be delighted.
- Spencer Hawes. Here is the guy that I feel has the most value. If you look around the league, I can't imagine Hawes doesn't fit with at least a dozen or so playoff teams as a third big man. Hawes will get a first rounder from one of these teams, Sixers fans need to hope it is with a team like Charlotte that has several 1st round picks from other teams.
3. A quick peek at the draft
If the season ended today, The Sixers would get the 3rd and 12th picks in this year's super draft. This would result in the Sixers selecting the last man standing from Parker, Randle, and Wiggins. The latter pick could then be used for another potential young starter. The possibilities have me totally entralled, with visions of the league's youngest, coolest team dance in my head.
4. A quick peek at your 2014-15 76ers
What would those teams look like you ask? Who knows honestly, since the picks are so fluid, but it is fun to imagine. You figure Thad, MC Dub, Noel, and Wroten are the only significant guys likely to return for 2014. So just fill in the blanks with available trade bait and prospects and your imagination can run wild.
Dream 1: MCDUB, Wiggins, Loul Deng, Thad Young, and Nerlens; Backed up by Wroten, the #12 pick, let's say Montrezl Harrell, and Spencer Hawes. (Just have to sign Deng and Hawes as FAs and get lucky in lottery, nothing wild or cazay here)
Dream 2: MCDUB, Lance Stephenson, Jabari Parker, Thaddeus Young, Nerlens Noel. Spencer, Wroten, Rodney Hood (Parker's wingman at Duke).
I'm going to stop here to save my sanity, but I could do this all day, and I'm totally convinced that any of these lineups could contend for the 3rd spot in the shitty east.
5. Thank you Daniel Orton
It's about damn time we got a little nasty!
6. For perhaps the final time in 2013, Sing it!
Thanks for reading, see you probably next year. I can't wait until the holidays are over and life returns to normal.
