Philadelphia 76ers Offseason Outlook: Brighter Days Ahead?
Few people looked at Lou Williams’ game winning three pointer in game four of the Sixers’ first round playoff series against the Miami Heat as doing anything but delaying the inevitable: an early playoff exit. However, Williams’ three pointer with 8.1 seconds left did more than push the series to a fifth game. It may have finally turned a franchise’s fortunes around for the first time in a decade.
The Sixers Need Evan Turner to Continue His Progression Next Season
1 of 6The Sixers head into the 2011 offseason with plenty of reason for optimism. First-year head coach Doug Collins led the team to a 14-win improvement from 2009-2010, using the same players that had won only 29 games the previous season.
Jrue Holiday saw increases across the board while starting all 82 games. Elton Brand led the team in scoring with 15 points per game, while logging his most minutes on the court since joining the team before the 2008-2009 season.
Evan Turner, the second overall selection in the 2010 draft, gave fans what they had been wanting all season when he turned in a 17-point performance in Game 4 of the Sixers’ playoff series against the Heat.
However, with no player averaging 20 points per game, a starting center that averaged fewer than four rebounds per game and supposed-team leader Andre Iguodala averaging his lowest point total since the 2005-2006 season, the Sixers enter this offseason with significant holes to fill as they continue to try to improve.
Vucevic and Allen Have Potential to Become Key Role Players
2 of 6After hearing of the Sixers’ selection with the 16th pick in the 2011 draft, it appears that president Rod Thorn and General Manager Ed Stefanski chose to target the team’s rebounding issues first.
The selection of Nikola Vucevic, a 6’10”, 240-pound center out of USC, gives the team one of the tallest players available in the draft. Vucevic averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game last season for the Trojans, all team highs.
He also measures out with a 7’5” wingspan and a 9’5” standing reach. As one of the few true centers in the draft (ESPN’s Chad Ford had him ranked as the third best center available and 20th overall best prospect), the Sixers picked up some insurance should Spencer Hawes either decline the team’s offer sheet, or the team decline to match another offer sheet.
The team used their second round selection, 50th overall, on local product Lavoy Allen out of Temple. Allen, a 6’9”, 225-pound forward out of Morrisville, PA, averaged 11.6 points per game last season but saw a drop in rebounding.
He was projected to go undrafted, but scouts consider him a solid rebounder who has a questionable motor when on the floor. That is one characteristic that will not sit well with Sixers’ fans.
Brand's Contract Has Proven to Be a Financial Burden in Recent Years
3 of 6Unfortunately, with a lockout looming and essentially little to no cap room, Vucevic and Allen may be the only new additions for a while. However, once transactions are allowed, the Sixers can learn from past mistakes.
After swinging and missing badly with the Elton Brand signing before the 2008-2009 season, the Sixers have had limited finances for the past three offseasons.
The message really hit home last season when, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Amar'e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson all on the free-agent market, the Sixers could only sit and admire.
But with the possibility of Elton Brand utilizing an early termination contract after this season, along with the contract of Andres Nocioni potentially coming off the books, the Sixers can become players in a 2012 free agent class that could include UFA’s Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and RFA’s Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Brook Lopez.
Like a vacationer trying to lose a few pounds before bikini season, the Sixers must use this offseason to make themselves attractive in the future.
Trading Iguodala Can Bring the Sixers Immediate and Future Values
4 of 6So what’s the best way for the Sixers to make themselves more attractive while still improving on their win total?
Let Evan Turner continue to play until he becomes a star.
With Jrue Holiday displaying consistent improvement, the Sixers have the potential for owning one of the best young backcourts in the league. However, this cannot be achieved until Andre Iguodala is traded.
Fans heard all of the rumors leading up to the draft, from Iguodala going to Golden State for Monta Ellis, to the Clippers for Chris Kaman and even to the Lakers for Lamar Odom (should Khloe Kardashian stay away from Philly for awhile?).
By trading Iguodala, the Sixers can potentially gain back some salary cap room while also clearing the way for Turner to start at the 2-spot. Could an Iguodala and Lou Williams offer to the Lakers for Pau Gasol be enough for Dr. Buss to prove his confidence in Andrew Bynum?
With last season’s salary cap at nearly $58 million and the Sixers’ current 2011-2012 salary hovering near $68 million, a trade may be the only way to obtain money and talent.
Greg Oden May Be a Risk Worth Taking for a Promising Young Sixers Team
5 of 6The Sixers have already extended qualifying offers to their two restricted free agents, Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young.
Hawes is expected to accept the offer and, after hearing Thaddeus Young speak over the last few days, it is becoming increasingly likely that he too will be wearing a Sixers' jersey next season.
As far as unrestricted free agents go, few fans will lose sleep if Jason Kapono, Tony Battie, Antonio Daniels and Darius Songalia do not return.
The most intriguing free agent possibility for the Sixers is Greg Oden. Oden, the former No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, has only seen the court 82 times in his career.
Next season will be make-or-break for him and if the Trail Blazers decide they’ve had enough of seeing him in suits on the bench instead of starting at center, Oden could be the perfect fit for the Sixers.
The Blazers extended Oden an $8.8 million offer, which would be at the upper limit of the Sixers’ financial flexibility.
A backup option may be Charlotte’s Dante Cunningham. The Bobcats took their time extending a qualifying offer to Cunningham and may decide to let him leave if he signs another offer sheet.
Cunningham is a former Villanova Wildcat who was mentioned in trade rumors with the Sixers during last February's trade deadline.
With an Average Age of 27, the Sixers Have a Nucleus That Can Be Good for Years
6 of 6If it seems as if Sixers’ fans have had little to cheer about since game one of the 2001 Finals against the Lakers, it’s because they have.
Through the final days of Iverson’s tenure in Philadelphia, to the acquisition of Chris Webber, to numerous head coaching changes, to the signing of Elton Brand, the Sixers have had nearly a decade of poor decisions that never panned out.
However, the current 76ers roster is different. Their roster, with an average age of 27, is coming together in an era when a team not only needs one superstar to compete but two to three.
So far, they’ve responded well to the underdog role. And everyone loves an underdog.
