A more divisive team does not exist in the landscape of professional sports than the Philadelphia 76ers. Since 2013, General Manager Sam Hinkie’s first year at the helm, the team has embraced a radical rebuilding process aimed at securing as many high draft picks as possible in the hopes of landing a superstar that can change the fortune of the franchise. In the NBA, the worst thing that a team can be is adequate. If you’re good enough to make the playoffs but not win a title, you’re stuck outside of the draft lottery, drastically reducing the chance of drafting the next LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Thus, it’s better to bottom than remain on the fringe of contention. Years of losing is meant to give way to a stretch of dominance that a select few teams ever experience. It’s not uncommon for teams to throw in the towel in hopes of getting a slam dunk prospect, but the Sixer’s transparent and unapologetic approach is a strategy that has asked for a tremendous amount of patience from all parties involved.
Outside of Philadelphia, however, folks are clamoring for immediate results. To some members of the basketball community, the Sixers’ process is viewed as an affront to competitive spirit and professionalism. Losing games intentionally makes the team an easy target for the media. The brashness in which Hinkie has overhauled the roster has led to furious debate as to whether even the team understands the direction that it’s heading. They are simultaneously irrelevant and vilified.
Despite the negativity surrounding the team in the national media landscape, there’s a cautious optimism surrounding the team unlike any past year under the direction of the “tank.” Most of that optimism stems from the team’s most recent draft pick. Jahlil Okafor, a center from Duke who won a National Championship in the spring, will be the first Sixer first round pick to immediately step onto the court under Hinkie’s tenure. He brings to the team a remarkably polished skillset in the low post that most 19 year olds can only dream of achieving.
Is Okafor enough to drag the Sixers to the playoffs? Certainly not. Even the best players struggle as rookies and need time to acclimate to the pace and rigors of professional basketball. But last year provides evidence that rookies can make a big impact right away. Nerlens Noel made his debut last season after missing his entire rookie year recovering from a torn ACL. Despite an inefficient start, Noel’s presence was enough to drag the Sixers’ defensive efficiency rating up 14 spots from 26th in 2013-14 to 12th in 2014-15. That did not translate to more wins for the team, but Noel’s strong play after the All-Star break caught the eyes of many fans and earned him third place in rookie of the year voting.
The dynamic between Noel and Okafor is the most interesting storyline surrounding the Sixers this season. Conceptually, the two fit well; Okafor will play center and get most of his buckets in the paint. Noel will shift to power forward this year, where his defensive impact shouldn’t miss a beat. He has the quickness and defensive instincts to guard players away from the basket. As a rookie, Noel was the only player in the entire league to rank in the top 10 for steals (1.8 per game) and blocks (1.9). While Noel struggles offensively, he’s shown improvement in his mid-range jumpshot, something that will have to improve in order to prevent defenders from simply doubling Okafor every time he touches the ball.
Of course demanding respect from defenders will not fall squarely on the shoulders of Noel. In an era of basketball in which spacing is crucial to success, the Sixers will attempt to surround their two big men with players who can shoot the ball from the perimeter. As part of a trade this summer with the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia acquired Nik Stauskas, a shooting guard from Michigan who the Sixers reportedly wanted to draft in 2014. Stauskas struggled with limited minutes as a rookie on the Kings, but he should see more playing time under Head Coach Brett Brown. The addition of Stauskas along with Robert Covington (a former D-Leaguer until he exploded onto the scene with Philadelphia), Hollis Thompson (who shot over 40 percent from 3-point range last year) and Isaiah Canaan (nicknamed “Canaan Ball” for his propensity for launching shots), and the Sixers lineup has finally started to take shape as a respectable NBA offense.
But for the Sixers to truly make the leap to a respectable team, they will almost certainly have to make a trade for an already established player. Trades like the ones that involved James Harden in 2012 or Kevin Love last summer can transform a merely good team into a great team, and there might not be a more well-positioned team to make such a trade than the Sixers. Philadelphia could potentially own four first round draft picks in the coming NBA draft, and should an all-star level player like DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, or even Eric Bledsoe become available, the Sixers are primed with assets that could amount to a Godfather-esque offer.
So don’t let the narrative surrounding this team fool you. Yes, on most nights they won’t be grabbing your attention on NBA League Pass, but they play an exciting, fast-paced brand of basketball that produces some truly exciting highlights. The wins might not be there this year, but with Okafor and a new cast of shooters with a training camp under their belts, the future is bright, and watching this team grow is one of the most interesting case studies in professional sports. Sometimes patience does pay off.
Chris Landry can be reached at CL784324@wcupa.edu