The Philadelphia 76ers have completed their much anticipated rebranding stage with an updated logo and uniforms that added a retro flavor in a modernized fashion. For those that missed out on the festivities Thursday night, here’s a look at your new Sixers threads:
https://twitter.com/Sixers/status/611686846658179072
That’s just step one of what looks to be an important couple of months for the emerging franchise. An offseason filled with optimism and brimming hope awaits the Sixers who have the pinnacle of their blueprint next Thursday.
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The draft is their well of riches to acquire a star. It’s universally known Philadelphia prides the draft over any other means to get their next Allen Iverson or Julius Erving.
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No stars have surfaced throughout Iverson’s departure or have assisted his renaissance to get back to the NBA Finals. A past-his-prime Chris Webber, a complimentary point guard in Andre Miller, and a limited Elton Brand all were brought in. Not one of the three transcended the status of the organization.
Even touted selections like Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner all provided promise yet didn’t develop as a No. 1 option in the Association.
The importance of finding gems in the draft is paramount for the organization. Fans have endured two seasons with the team failing to reach the 20-win mark. How long they’ll be sufficed with “The Process” remains to be seen, but management did brace the fan base for a three- to five-year rebuild.
While general manager Sam Hinkie won’t initiate the quick fix, some picks have to pan out and show flashes of brilliance.
Nerlens Noel exuded qualities of a defensive force his rookie year with a developing, yet still very raw, offensive game. He validated his worth as one of the top prospects in 2013 draft class and should be a fixture in the league with a Ben Wallace ceiling. His fit with another interior prodigy is an underlying theme that management will have to acknowledge this season.
No one knows the actual status of Joel Embiid. A plethora of vague terms like “may” and “probable” have surfaced in reports and feature know substance to base judgment of off. He hasn’t played one minute of professional basketball, but the Sixers would take Embiid without thought at No. 3 again and again.
He embodies the message of “trust the process.” His rehab and continuous effort to suit up is an arduous process itself.
Embiid presented the Sixers with the best player available on the board in 2014 at No. 3 despite his foot injury. They’ll likely follow suit this Thursday.
Deciphering what “best player available” refers to on the Sixers draft board is hypothetical. Reports have surfaced they’ll take either Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor or D’Angelo Russell at pick No. 3 while recent conjectures believe Hinkie is viewing Kristaps Porzingis as their next premier building block.
The Latvian prodigy has become a staple in draft discussions referring to the Sixers. He’s what the organization embodies similar to Embiid. A risk that could formulate into a special talent at the highest level.
He flashed salivating tools during his workout at Impact in front of every organization. Porzingis could possess the most adept shooting prowess and promise for a man over 7’0″ in the world. His 31.3 percent from deep doesn’t adequately symbolize what he could offer as a stretch five who opens up an offensive attack.
While what he could be should entice a franchise to take a risk on the international stud, D’Angelo Russell is the front runner to join the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015.
A rebrand needs a face to it. The Ohio State product is a legitimate fan favorite to whoever drafts the captivating lefty. Russell would be a palpable option at No. 3 and some even have him as the top player in this year’s class.
I have D’Angelo Russell at 2 in my Best Available, after Towns and before Okafor. One exec told me I was wrong — that Russell should be 1.
— Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) June 6, 2015
It’s evident by now what Russell offers. He’s a protean combo guard who is an elite floor general with one of the best shooting traits in the draft.
Russell is lethal in pick-and-roll and locating players on the fast break. In Philadelphia, who like to push the pace and utilize mismatches in half court sets, Russell is an ideal candidate to operate their game plan. Able to play both guard positions, he’d easily be the primary option in the backcourt.
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Factoring in the chaos circulating around Embiid’s latest rumors, Russell is the safest play the Sixers can make with their first pick in the draft. Drafting Porzingis over Russell, if the point guard is still on the board, might raise the ire in some fans wanting that sure thing.
It’s not a knock on Russell’s ceiling. He’s an intriguing play at No. 3 giving Philadelphia a chance to draft one of the elite point guards in the league while also filling that PG void Philly has yet to access. While some may confuse filling a need without buying into another player’s ceiling, Russell defies that logic.
With five second-round picks, the options the Sixers have are incredible. They can get back into the first round by packaging some of the trove in their possession, or hope that one pick unearths that potential second-round stud they can utilize down the road.
Players like Chris McCullough, Cliff Alexander and Robert Upshaw are all undervalued talents that are likely to fall due to personal downfalls during the college season. Both K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant did last year and the Sixers aren’t hesitant to take risks with late picks.
While rebranding might assume a fresh start for the organization, the Sixers likely won’t branch out and try to acquire high profile free agents. The process still is in an early stage, but a new look will correlate with new talent joining through the draft. Rebranding brought hype, the draft certifies it.
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