The Philadelphia 76ers have the first pick in the NBA Draft this year for the first time since 1996. (The last time the 76ers had the number 1 overall pick, they selected Allen Iverson.) In the mid-1990’s, fitness guru Susan Powter had a catchphrase “Stop The Insanity.” I think this is what most 76ers fans are saying at this point.
Philadelphia has been “tanking,” or losing for years, in order to get draft picks and build a winner. I agree with this process wholeheartedly. In the NBA, the worst thing to be is mediocre. The 8th seed in the playoffs almost always gets swept in the first round, and they don’t get a lottery pick. If you are not a top 4 seed in the Eastern and Western Conference, it is better to trade away pieces and build for the future. I think the frustration with the Philadelphia fans is they were told to “Trust the Process” and they have been getting worse every year. Over the past 4 seasons, their records stand at 34-48 (2012-13), 19-63 (2013-14), 18-64 (2014-15), and 10-72 (2015-16).
Not to add salt to an open wound, but here are a few players that the 76ers drafted and have let go over the years: Andre Iguodala (last year’s NBA Finals MVP), Thaddeus Young (averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game last season with the Nets), Evan Turner (Boston Celtics part-time starter and 6th man), Elfrid Payton (starting Point Guard for the Orlando Magic), and Michael Carter-Williams (projected starter next season for the Milwaukee Bucks).
When you look at successful teams in the NBA, they all built their rosters through the draft. The Golden State Warriors drafted Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green; the Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook; even the Cavaliers drafted Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and LeBron James. There is now a young, talented nucleus in the city of brotherly love, and Philadelphia will most likely select either Ben Simmons (6’10, 245lbs Power Forward out of LSU) or Brandon Ingram (6’9, 200lbs Small Forward out of Duke) as their first pick.
The 76ers have got to sign some veteran players this off-season to show these young kids how to win and be professional. If they do that, they’ll have the tools to be successful for the next 5-10 years, and will become a “hot spot” for free agents. There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train.
For more from Monte Perez, follow The Sports Whisperer on Twitter @Montetjwitter11, and listen to the Monte Cristo Sports Thing on WRNJ Radio.
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