76ers Franchise Taking Steps in the Right Direction

What a difference a week can make

A week ago, the Sixers were without a coach, and slotted for the sixth pick in a two player draft,  a pick that they can’t turn into a franchise changer. Today the Sixers find themselves with the second overall pick, and ready to introduce new head coach Doug Collins.

The past season was very tough for the Sixers as they finished 27-55, however as I suggested in the offseason, the best option for the Sixers this season would be to tank. I’m not saying that the Sixers went into the season thinking this would be the outcome, but eventually they could do nothing but play the young talent.

It’s not that it was a bad roster, but the pieces just didn’t fit. Coming into the season it was thought that the Sixers best two young players were Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, problem is they both play best at the 3 position. Elton Brand, who has been a bad fir from day one, just didn’t play into his strengths in the Princeton offense, and seems to be past his prime.

Head coach Eddie Jordan was a huge disappointment, GM Ed Stefanski went with Eddie Jordan due to his prior work with Jordan when both worked for the New Jersey Nets' organization. The player’s never seemed to fit in or buy in to Jordan’s system, and eventually may have tuned him out as the season progressed.

As for attendance, even worst, the Sixers finished second to last in terms of percentage of filled seats at 70 percent. The Sixers had three sell outs, the Allen Iverson return game against the Nuggets, and when the Lakers and Cavs visited.

And the highlight of the season, the return of Allen Iverson, remember Iverson was supposed to rejuvenate his career and take the Sixers back to the playoffs. He ended up playing in 25 games, averaging 14 points, and 4 assists.

Overall the season was a disaster all together.

However this week has been the highlight of the year for the Sixers, moving up to the second pick in a two player draft, and a head coach in Doug Collins who has a pedigree.

We’ll start with Collins; Doug Collins for a long time has been widely considered the best analyst in basketball, some people have called him the John Madden of basketball. He is a great X and Os coach, and is one of the best at drawing up plays out of timeouts.

Drawing up solid plays out of timeouts is crucial because one thing last year’s Sixers team struggled with was closing out and games and executing at the end.

The big question is, what would attract Doug Collins to this job, considering he is the best analyst in the game, and this is after all a 27 win team. However Collins loves the potential of the roster, and believes they just didn’t play to their potential last year.

Collins also has a soft spot for Philadelphia as it is home to his daughter and his grandchildren, and it is where he started his NBA career being the first overall pick in the 1973 draft.

As for the second overall pick, many have already penciled in Evan Turner as the Sixers choice. While that he may be the best player available, and the guy the fans want, the Sixers have options at number two.

Sam Dalembert’s contract runs out after this season, and the Sixers may use him as a trade chip at the deadline due to his expiring contract. That being said the Sixers may want to draft a big man for the future to sure up the frontcourt. Potential big men would be Derrick Favors out of Georgia Tech and DeMarcus Cousins out of Kentucky. One of the two would likely be the Sixers second pick if they draft a big, which is their need.

Another option would be to trade the second pick to the Timberwolves who have a bigger need for a wing player like Turner. The Sixers would draft at four and take DeMarcus Cousins or Derrick Favors, and also have the Timberwolves other two first round picks (picks 16 and 23).

However, the Sixers have been desperately looking for a star, and they could have a very special backcourt with Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. A backcourt you can build around for the future.

Holiday was the youngest player in the league last season and played exceptionally well. He averaged 10 points, 5 assists as a starter, and showed that he can be an elite defender at the NBA level. Holiday still has a lot of room to grow, and has potential to be a star in the league.

Pairing Evan Turner with Holiday gives the Sixers what could eventually be the best back court in the league five years from now. Defensively a trio of Holiday, Turner, and Iguodala gives the Sixers a big advantage. Turner can also help the Sixers in a huge need, outside shooting. The Sixers had one true shooter last season in Jason Kapono, however Kapono isn’t valued by the Sixers and barely plays significant minutes, Turner can give the Sixers a shooter from the wing position.

More importantly Turner could finally give the Sixers the star they’ve been searching for since Iverson’s first departure. In the NBA it’s all about star power, every title team has one superstar player, the Lakers have Kobe Bryant, the Magic have Dwight Howard. To win a title in the NBA a superstar is a necessity. Turner could be the superstar, the player fans pay money to see. Turner could be the face of the franchise the Sixers have desperately needed.

Last season was a misery; however things have been looking up in Sixerville. The team generated buzz in the midst of a Flyers playoff run, and a tumultuous Eagles offseason, and the Phillies regular season. But now the Sixers have a foundation, something they lacked last year. This could be the start of something big for the Sixers.