Philadelphia 76ers: Changes That Need to Be Made to Become NBA's Elite

The 2011-2012 Philadelphia 76ers had a successful season. They made a solid run and almost made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but eventually lost in Game 7 to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs.

As fun as their run was, the organization and the fans know that is was smoke and mirrors. The Sixers are not a championship caliber team as currently constructed.

The team has a few nice, young pieces and a great coach in Doug Collins. However, if they are going to take the next step in becoming legitimate NBA title contenders, they need to make some adjustments to their roster.

Use Amnesty Clause on Elton Brand

Elton Brand is due to make over $18 million in 2012-2013. That would not be money well spent.

Over the past season, he averaged 11.0 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. Certainly, those numbers aren't worth nearly $20 million next season.

Brand is already 33 years old and isn't getting any younger. He also missed six games due to injury this past season. Brand has not been the same player after he tore his Achilles tendon. Signing him never made a great deal of sense considering the severity of the injury. Few players return to top form following such a blow.

Brand is also blocking playing time for young players such as Lavoy Allen, who played surprisingly well in the playoffs. It's time for the Sixers to move on from Brand.

Trade Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala is the Sixers' best all-around player. That being said, he is not a star. He is not even close. Even so, Iguodala is due to make nearly $15 million next season.

He is a great defender, but isn't a great scorer. At times, he struggles to create his own shots, which is a problem with most of the Sixers roster. Another frustrating aspect of Iguodala's game is his poor foul shooting in clutch situations. Throughout the postseason, Iguodala missed important free throws at the end of games.

Trading Iguodala is the right move. He is making too much money for the type of player he is. Iguodala also takes away valuable playing time from Evan Turner. 

Allow Free Agents to Walk

The Sixers have several players that will become free agents this offseason. These include Spencer Hawes, Jodie Meeks and Louis Williams. Letting these players walk away is probably the best move for the organization.

Hawes and Meeks struggled to make an impact for the team this season. Hawes missed most the year due to injury, while Meeks struggled with his shooting. This could help to create a few million dollars more in free agency.

Williams is likely to opt out of his player option on his contract. He wants to become a full-time starter and wants to make more money than the Sixers are willing to pay him. He is frustrating to watch at times due to his poor shot selection. The Sixers can be a better team without him.

Sign Roy Hibbert and Eric Gordon/O.J. Mayo

The former Georgetown Hoya, Roy Hibbert, is set to become a restricted free agent. The current Indiana Pacer showed his ability this postseason when he played very well against the Miami Heat.

Sports Illustrated recently reported that the Dallas Mavericks plan on placing an offer to Hibbert. I believe it would be wise for the Sixers to challenge that offer. They have lacked a steady player in the post for years and he could help instantly.

Eric Gordon is an interesting free agent as well. He was well on his way to becoming a star shooting guard before injuring his knee this past season. He missed most of the year in 2011-2012, but should be on the Sixers' radar. He is a true two-guard and could fit in nicely in Philadelphia if he's healthy.

If the Sixers decide that they don't feel confident in Gordon's knee, another option could be O.J. Mayo. He is also slated to become a free agent. While he has never shown star-caliber ability, he is a serviceable starting two-guard. 

Have a Good Season and Save Money for Next Summer

This was a very successful season for the Sixers. Winning a playoff series is a nice step in the right direction. It's important for them to keep that momentum as they move forward.

If they can replicate that level of success next season, big things are on the way for this team. Getting rid of Iguodala and Brand could free up a lot of money to spend. After the 2012-2013 season, big-time players are set to become free agents. Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Andrew Bynum and DeMarcus Cousins are just a few names on that list.

Money isn't the only factor in recruiting star NBA players. They often want to see that a team can win and has a good fanbase. If the Sixers have another good run, they might be able to convince one of these stars to join the fun.  

Thoughts

The Sixers are doing a nice job of changing the culture of their franchise. They have a solid nucleus and a great head coach. It seems that the front office cares about this team for the first time in many years.

The organization has some interesting decisions to make over the next few months—decisions that could ultimately determine the fate of this team.