NBA: 10 Things That Would Advance the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2012 Playoffs
Despite their valiant effort against the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers didn't have quite enough firepower to pull off an upset, losing their first-round series in five games.
Even with the early playoff exit, 76ers fans should feel pretty optimistic about their team as they head into the offseason.
The foundation for a deep playoff run appears to be in place. Elton Brand provides the team's veteran leadership, while Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner combine to form a young nucleus that is talented and athletic enough to run with just about any squad in the NBA.
With head coach Doug Collins getting most of the team to buy into his philosophy in only one season, the 76ers appear to be just a few role players shy of challenging the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
That's not to say that some changes aren't in order, though. Here is a look at 10 things the 76ers need to do in order to get out of the first round of the NBA playoffs next year.
1. Trade Andre Iguodala
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Andre Iguodala clearly doesn't want to be in Philadelphia anymore.
When asked after the season whether he wanted to play for the 76ers next year, he gave a series of vague, non-committal answers about his future in the NBA.
Not exactly what you want to hear out of your franchise player.
The last thing any team wants is someone who doesn't want to be a part of the movement. The 76ers' bandwagon is gassed up and finally moving in the right direction for the first time in years. Those who don't believe—players and fans alike—are nothing but dead weight at this point.
Although Iguodala may be blessed with an inordinate amount of athletic ability, it is time for the 76ers to part ways with their mercurial co-captain.
Will the 76ers get equal value in a trade for Iguodala? Probably not. But his potential negative impact far outweighs anything that he'll give to them on the basketball court next season.
2. Re-Sign Thaddeus Young
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You could make a case that Thaddeus Young was the most valuable player on the entire 76ers roster this season. Not only did he provide valuable scoring as the key of the team's second unit (12.7 points per game off of the bench), but he was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Versatile 6'8" forwards don't grow on trees, so the 76ers absolutely have to make re-signing Thaddeus Young their No. 1 priority during the summer.
A mere $4 million qualifying offer would allow Philadelphia to match any offer made to Young this offseason. Even with the salary cap projected to go down with a new CBA, there will be a least one team willing to sign Young for far more than that $4 million figure.
Regardless of what that number is, the 76ers need to match it, even if it means going into luxury-tax territory.
Without Young, who finished third in the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award voting this season, the 76ers' bench would go from the team's primary strength to one of its biggest weaknesses. After scoring only 99 points per game this year, Philadelphia would have a difficult time replacing his output on the offensive end.
3. Start Evan Turner at the 2-Guard Spot
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Jodie Meeks should be commended for his performance this season, averaging 10.5 points per game as the starting shooting guard for the 76ers after beginning the year on the inactive list.
Hopefully, he was just keeping the seat warm for Evan Turner.
Turner, the No. 2 pick in last June's NBA draft, is the future starting shooting guard on this team. As such, he needs significant on-the-job training to learn exactly what Doug Collins wants from him night in and night out.
Though 76ers fans expected the baptism by fire to begin this past season, that wasn't quite the case. The word "erratic" would best describe Turner's debut campaign, a year in which he averaged 7.2 points, 3.9 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game.
It practically took all season, but Turner finally appears comfortable with his current role on the 76ers. He showed glimpses of his potential during the opening round against the Heat, scoring in double figures twice and pulling down 10 rebounds in another contest.
With a full season (and offseason) under his belt, the former Ohio State swingman should be able to assume his rightful position in the opening-day lineup come October.
4. Sign a Backup Point Guard
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With the exception of Antonio Daniels (who was nothing more than a late-season rental), Jrue Holiday is the only true point guard on the 76ers' roster.
For a team looking to make noise in the playoffs next year, that's a significant problem.
Fortunately, Philadelphia will have several options to fill this position in free agency. The Mavericks' J.J. Barea and Boston's Delonte West and Carlos Arroyo are some of the better potential additions to the roster, and they may not come with an unreasonable price tag.
Whoever the 76ers acquire doesn't have to be a playmaker, necessarily. Even with only one legitimate lead guard, the 76ers had the fewest turnovers in the league this season and were sixth in the NBA in assists with 22.7 per game.
That said, it is a position that must be addressed this offseason. The lack of a backup point guard forced Holiday to log nearly 38 minutes per game during the 76ers' first-round series with the Miami Heat.
5. Upgrade the Center Position Via Free Agency
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There's no way to sugarcoat it: The 76ers' interior defense was terrible this past season. For the year, Philadelphia finished 26th in the league with 4.3 blocks per game.
Opposing players attacked the basket at will, as the 76ers' defensive presence in the paint (at the center position, most notably) was virtually nonexistent. Spencer Hawes had flashes of brilliance, but he also had not-so-brilliant moments that appeared to cause Doug Collins great consternation.
The most affordable answer to this problem on the free-agent market may be Boston Celtics' big man Glen Davis. While not a true center, Davis would provide a solid presence in the middle and is the type of player who finds ways to score (11.7 points per game this season) without having set plays run for him in a half-court offense.
Aside from Davis, other free-agent options at the five spot for the 76ers include Indiana's Jeff Foster, Portland's Greg Oden and Kwame Brown of the Charlotte Bobcats.
6. Draft a Big Man...or Two
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While the 76ers boast a plethora of wing players, they don't have many consistent options that they can go to when Elton Brand and/or Spencer Hawes aren't in the game.
Ideally, Marreese Speights will improve enough during the offseason to make this less of an issue, but the 76ers would do well to address this need during the upcoming draft this June.
Morehead State's Kenneth Faried, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson and local-product Markieff Morris from Kansas could still be on the board when the 76ers pick at 16, and they would be well served to select one of those players to shore up their interior game.
In fact, don't be surprised if they use both picks in this year's draft on big men—Maryland's Jordan Williams and Oakland's Keith Benson may be intriguing options in the second round, if either is still available.
7. Acquire a Shooter Via Free Agency
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Back in October, small forward Jason Kapono earned a spot in the 76ers' starting lineup for his long-range shooting prowess.
He made exactly one three-pointer this season.
Due to his lack of production—and the fact that his contract expires at the end of the season—it's safe to say Kapono has played his last game in a 76ers uniform.
In his stead, Jodie Meeks quickly became the team's resident deep threat, hitting 138 three-pointers this season. But aside from Meeks, no one else on the roster could consistently knock down a shot from beyond the arc.
The Nets' Sasha Vujacic or the Clippers' Rasual Butler would be great complementary shooters off the bench, but they'd need to be willing to sign for the mid-level exception. Without another long-range threat, the 76ers will have difficulty keeping pace with some of the higher-powered offenses in the Eastern Conference.
8. Either Play Marreese Speights, or Trade Him
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Despite the lack of a true low-post game, Marreese Speights is a talented offensive player. He has a deft touch from 14-to-18 feet and decent ball skills when facing the basket.
His defense and basketball IQ leave much to be desired though.
Whether it was due to lack of ability or simply a lack of effort, Speights' defensive lapses and questionable decision-making (with and without the ball) made it difficult for Doug Collins to call his number all that often this season.
The minutes are there for Speights if he wants them—he'll just need to put in the work this offseason to show he deserves an increased role. With consistent effort on both ends of the floor, Speights could easily double his playing time in 2011-12.
If he doesn't show that effort, his attractive contract and better-than-average skill set should make it easy for the 76ers to deal him, if they so choose.
9. Find a Taker for Andres Nocioni
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As valuable as Andres Nocioni may be for the Philadelphia 76ers next season (and his value definitely increases with an Iguodala deal), he may have more value in a potential trade.
In the NBA, deals aren't usually made based on ability, but rather a player's impact (or lack thereof) on a team's salary cap. With only one more guaranteed season left on his contract for $6.65 million, Nocioni is a very attractive bargaining chip for the 76ers. Team president Rod Thorn can (and likely will) use Nocioni's expiring deal to acquire a player who is a better fit in Doug Collins' rotation.
So whether they swap him for another reserve player or package him with one of their young stars for a No. 1 scoring option, Nocioni—or more importantly, his contract—gives the 76ers the flexibility they need in order to improve their roster.
10. Cut Back on Elton Brand's Minutes
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At 32 years old, 76ers co-captain Elton Brand led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in 2010-11.
But with 12 years in the NBA on his resume, the rigors of the Association are beginning to have an effect on Brand's 6'9", 254-pound frame. Among other ailments, Brand dislocated his finger and broke his right hand this season, yet still didn't miss a single game due to injury.
After logging nearly 35 minutes a game during the regular season, Doug Collins needs to find a way to limit Brand's minutes so he's completely healthy come playoff time. With Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights as more-than-capable options at the four spot, Collins should be able to comfortably reduce Brand's minutes to the 32-to-33 minute range, presumably keeping him fresh for an extended postseason run.
