Offseason Grades: Philadelphia 76ers

[bondom34]

Its that time of year again where the offseason is (almost) completed for most teams. So with that, K_Chile22 and I are planning on writing up some grades for every team (and I don't want to speak for him but at least will preface these with the following: Yes I hate your team). To start, last year's first seed in the east, the 76ers.

K_Chile22's grade:

Philadelphia 76ers transactions

Front office
none.

Draft
Drafted Jaden Springer at pick #28.
Drafted Filip Petrusev at pick #50.
Drafted Charles Bassey at pick #53 (acquired from NOP).

Trades
Traded cash to New Orleans for pick #53.

Free agency
Extended Joel Embiid, 4/max.
Waived George HIll ($1.2M guaranteed).
Re-signed Danny Green, 2/$20M.
Re-signed Furkan Korkmaz, 3/$15M.
Signed Andre Drummond, 1/min.
Signed Georges Niang, 2/$7M.

Offseason Thoughts:

This one is hard because it feels incomplete. Maybe Simmons doesn't get moved this offseason, but what happens there will have a huge impact here. I'll assume he does not get traded for the sake of the exercise.
Biggest move is obviously extending Embiid, which is great for them.
Think they did well in free agency, Don't think they were getting better than Green with the MLE, Korkmaz provides shot creation for them at a fine price. Niang helps stretch the floor. Drummond is good value at that number, but is probably even worse of a fit with Ben than Dwight was. Wish they instead went after someone like Dieng or Dedmon, but maybe those dudes just weren't interested.
Like their draft relative to where they picked, Springer seems to be a good value there.


Grade:
B. Everything was around a c+ except for Embiid and the draft, which I don't give too much weight when you pick at 28 and the 50s.

2022 Prediction:
Top 3 seed in the east

Offseason in gif form



Bondom34's grade:

Philadelphia 76ers transactions

Front office
none.

Draft
Drafted Jaden Springer at pick #28.
Drafted Filip Petrusev at pick #50.
Drafted Charles Bassey at pick #53 (acquired from NOP).

Trades
Traded cash to New Orleans for pick #53.

Free agency
Extended Joel Embiid, 4/max.
Waived George HIll ($1.2M guaranteed).
Re-signed Danny Green, 2/$20M.
Re-signed Furkan Korkmaz, 3/$15M.
Signed Andre Drummond, 1/min.
Signed Georges Niang, 2/$7M.
Offseason Thoughts
Well I'll just say it, this feels awkward. Feels like a team who's offseason is incomplete due to a lack of a Ben Simmons trade but if I'm the Sixers I'm not trading Simmons for anything less than what would hopefully be a star (yes assets would be added) as it's likely the last great chance to make a big addition to their roster. So kudos for not being reactionary. Now on to what did happen...

Getting Springer at 28 was pretty darn solid value, and moving on to free agency locking up Embiid was both smart and a big plus for the Sixers future. Having a high end star is crucial to compete and the Sixers keep theirs locked up.

The Drummond signing feels...whatever. He's not someone who should be playing with Simmons (stretch 5 would be really nice here) but he's a fine enough backup if Embiid misses a few games here or there. Korkmaz's contract feels entirely fair and Danny Green remains a very useful role player. Hill just didn't seem to work out in the playoffs at least though I'd admit I wouldn't have minded them keeping him either. And Niang remains an interesting shooting forward option. Nothing here groundbreaking but they were just the 1 seed and they really didn't have to just yet. Overall being patient was probably the right move to me given what they have and need.

Grade
B
2022 Prediction
2nd in the East

Offseason in gif form

[loserX]

Love these thorough breakdowns, guys.

And yeah...it's kind of hard to assess with the whole Simmons situation still hanging out there. How much does it affect their grade? How much should it? This is still a very, very good team...but what happens if Simmons does come back? Can Doc pull them all together to take the next step? (And if Simmons *doesn't* come back, what does the team look like now?)

Maxing Embiid was a no-brainer. So was making sure he had some backups. Danny Green would have been tough to replace, so thumbs up there. Waiving Hill was the right financial move, but can't help but wonder if there were missed opportunities there as well.

[Village Idiot]

For now its an incomplete. If this ends up being their off-season its an D in my book. The Ben Simmons situation isn't tenable.

[HartfordWhalers]

Green is non gtd in year 2, making him perfect as a potential starter again or trade ballast at the trade deadline or in the offseason.

[Texas Chuck]

Yes I hate your team

Legit made me laugh.

Love these and am so glad you two are doing them. Great summaries from both of you.

I'm sort of like everyone else in that Simmons is sort of hanging over this, though I'm one of the minority who really isn't that interested in trading him unless it was a no-brainer.

I like most of what they actually did, but would probably stop short of an A because I still think they need a more dynamic shot creator on the perimeter. Feels like they didn't address their only real need. Would still love a Colin Sexton trade here.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me— the team had an embarrassing flameout again in the second round and I'm unsure what exactly they're expecting to be different this go-round.

[Texas Chuck]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me.

I don't feel like that's harsh at all even if I feel better than most about them largely running it back. Though I wish they had added a more dynamic perimeter player. I'm not convinced Maxey/is ready to be that guy in year 2. But I also think that much of that reaction was emotional in light of Simmons' 4th Q lack of shooting and of course that passed up layup that the narrative ran away from us a bit on.

Don't you think its fair being able to look at it more objectively with some time removed for some to feel better about this? Even if you may still feel like a Simmons or other major shakeup had to happen? Just curious, I think both options are fine of course depending on if one believes Philly is capped as a good RS team with fatal playoff flaws like we've seen from any number of teams in the past.

[K_chile22]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me— the team had an embarrassing flameout again in the second round and I'm unsure what exactly they're expecting to be different this go-round.

Personally, hard for me to grade based on things they didn't do when I don't know what was available. If there's nothing but junk out there for simmons, keeping him looks better, if there's ok stuff out there for him, keeping him looks worse, I just don't know.

[HotelVitale]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me.

I don't feel like that's harsh at all even if I feel better than most about them largely running it back. Though I wish they had added a more dynamic perimeter player. I'm not convinced Maxey/is ready to be that guy in year 2. But I also think that much of that reaction was emotional in light of Simmons' 4th Q lack of shooting and of course that passed up layup that the narrative ran away from us a bit on.

Don't you think its fair being able to look at it more objectively with some time removed for some to feel better about this? Even if you may still feel like a Simmons or other major shakeup had to happen? Just curious, I think both options are fine of course depending on if one believes Philly is capped as a good RS team with fatal playoff flaws like we've seen from any number of teams in the past.

From my perspective as a Sixers fan who has been skeptical of this team for the past 3 years, the no-way-we-run-this-back thing was just a lot of frustration more than an actual analysis. The series was close and the Sixers were in very good spots to win it, and it wasn't fated for Embiid to go 0-11 in the 2nd half of that one game, or for Harris to have a few jumpers rim out rather than fall in games 5 and 7, or for Thybulle and Howard to commit (barely) a few extra fouls down the stretch. Simmons was frustrating as always, but the Sixers played good hands badly in a couple of key games, and the Hawks got just enough on offense from some bit players to edge them. If that frustration is only because those things happened--and not because they can't win a championship--then it's not a frustration you have to rock with.

That said, I think everyone gets that there's not enough tight-game offense for that team to win a championship. ALL of their offensive creating pecking order--Embiid, Harris, Simmons, Milton, Maxey--showed they couldn't keep up in the 4th quarter consistently, and while some of that was unlucky shooting the problem seemed clearer and deeper than that. The learning the media declared was that Simmons is bad in 4th quarters in PO--a fact that Sixers fans knew beyond a reasonable doubt before this season--but the learning(s) for us had to do with the best version of Embiid still not being trustworthy with the game on the line, with Harris still being too reliant on tough mid-range pull-ups, etc.

My understanding is that Morey is setting his sights on fixing that problem rather than just pretending that trading Simmons for some aging good-not-great scorer gets them a championship. Things could get ugly if there's a whole 'nother season and PO with the same thing happening, but a) nothing's really lost by giving Morey some more time to shop around and b) there's a perfectly realistic chance the same team is clicking throughout the season and there are suddenly better/more options. Either way, it seems like a bad idea to force a hasty trade from the position they're in now.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me.

I don't feel like that's harsh at all even if I feel better than most about them largely running it back. Though I wish they had added a more dynamic perimeter player. I'm not convinced Maxey/is ready to be that guy in year 2. But I also think that much of that reaction was emotional in light of Simmons' 4th Q lack of shooting and of course that passed up layup that the narrative ran away from us a bit on.

Don't you think its fair being able to look at it more objectively with some time removed for some to feel better about this? Even if you may still feel like a Simmons or other major shakeup had to happen? Just curious, I think both options are fine of course depending on if one believes Philly is capped as a good RS team with fatal playoff flaws like we've seen from any number of teams in the past.

I guess I just see one of their fatal weakness as not having anyone capable of effectively running the PnR to target weak defenders. Its halted them in the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons. The one time it didnt was with Jimmy Butler and they’ve never come close to replacing him.

I feel like insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It feels like the Sixers are doing the same thing and praying everything works out differently this time. I think they really cant afford to waste another year of Embiids prime hoping the Simmons/Tobias/Embiid trio works, personally.

Its possible I’m very wrong— I just dont see them as any closer to a title than where they were entering the offseason and would give them a C at best for that.

[HotelVitale]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me.

I don't feel like that's harsh at all even if I feel better than most about them largely running it back. Though I wish they had added a more dynamic perimeter player. I'm not convinced Maxey/is ready to be that guy in year 2. But I also think that much of that reaction was emotional in light of Simmons' 4th Q lack of shooting and of course that passed up layup that the narrative ran away from us a bit on. Don't you think its fair being able to look at it more objectively with some time removed for some to feel better about this? Even if you may still feel like a Simmons or other major shakeup had to happen? Just curious, I think both options are fine of course depending on if one believes Philly is capped as a good RS team with fatal playoff flaws like we've seen from any number of teams in the past.

I guess I just see one of their fatal weakness as not having anyone capable of effectively running the PnR to target weak defenders. Its halted them in the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons. The one time it didnt was with Jimmy Butler and they’ve never come close to replacing him. I feel like insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It feels like the Sixers are doing the same thing and praying everything works out differently this time. I think they really cant afford to waste another year of Embiids prime hoping the Simmons/Tobias/Embiid trio works, personally. Its possible I’m very wrong— I just dont see them as any closer to a title than where they were entering the offseason and would give them a C at best for that.

You're right on the weakness, though this year the Sixers got Embiid and Harris into really good matchups against the Hawks--things like Embiid 1-on-1 against Collins, Huerter on Harris--and they just couldn't deliver down the stretch. Harris runs pn'r quite a bit and they were getting him solid mismatches, he just missed jumpers. What can you do, he's not the best guy for that situation but it's also really hard to say that's just bound to happen every time. If Jrue and Middleton didn't hit a bunch of jumpers they could've easily missed, they don't beat the Nets or the Suns.

Also side-rant: that whole "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results" always seems like an empty thing that preachers and aunties say when they're trying to sound wise. You always have to assess your options and roll with the decision that seems best, which includes factoring in how much the previous outcome might repeat themselves and how much variance there might be. Seems obvious that throwing your life away immediately because you didn't achieve a very difficult thing (like a sports title) is going to move you backwards in a lot of things, sports or otherwise. (We also have other cliches that say the exact same opposite, e.g. "if at first you don't succeed, try try again.")

[bondom34]

Full disclosure on the grades (this will apply to anything really I'd say) but I tended not to grade too harshly on the draft unless it was something I just couldn't really get and weighted free agency/trades more. That said if a team got pretty good value relative to consensus boards it did help more than most teams were hurt. Thinking as an example I can see what teams were doing with taking Green/Mobley over Suggs even if I disagree. This fit elsewhere too, there were a couple I did knock as well.

And agree with K_Chile that it's tough to really grade harshly for me at least in this instance not knowing what was out there and knowing this is the Sixers last real shot to get a 2nd guy with Embiid, I'd rather them wait a little than rush into something not as good.

But overall they got good value in free agency and brought back their star with a draft pick who was value at the slot he was taken. The knocks were not getting a stretch big and to some extent Hill, both of which felt minor. I do think even with his faults it needs to be noted the Sixers were the 1 seed for a reason and it took a bunch more than just Simmons for them to lose.

[Foshan]

Appreciate these threads

While I totally agree with the feeling of incompleteness to the off-season, based only on what I can see on these boards (having no league contacts and not believing many tweets), I am currently looking at not moving Ben as a win. Maybe that sounds laughable to you all, but with him we still have a high ceiling and a trade chip to use. 99% of non-Philly made proposals on here leave the sixers team worse on the floor with a lower ceiling, banking on addition through subtraction. That seems outlandish to me given our circumstances.

I’m very content to run it back and fight to be at the top of the East and see what might break different in the playoffs. Sure beats fighting to be at the bottom… been there done that.

[GutUNC]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me— the team had an embarrassing flameout again in the second round and I'm unsure what exactly they're expecting to be different this go-round.

The “again” is inaccurate since this is the first time it’s happened. Losing to Kawhi on a Game 7 buzzer beater and getting swept with a roster that was poorly shaped before Simmons was hurt aren’t “embarrassing flameouts”.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[SmartWentCrazy]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me— the team had an embarrassing flameout again in the second round and I'm unsure what exactly they're expecting to be different this go-round.

The “again” is inaccurate since this is the first time it’s happened. Losing to Kawhi on a Game 7 buzzer beater and getting swept with a roster that was poorly shaped before Simmons was hurt aren’t “embarrassing flameouts”.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

What about losing to a Celtics team in 5 games that was missing two max players and was the heavy betting underdog? Does that count?

And yes, getting swept last year when you had the best player in the series was not good. Sorry we disagree.

[Prokorov]

I’m probably just a harsh grader, but I feel like everyone collectively agreed that Philly absolutely could not run it back after the playoffs last year. Given that it looks like thats what they're doing, a B grade feels pretty generous to me— the team had an embarrassing flameout again in the second round and I'm unsure what exactly they're expecting to be different this go-round.

This is where I am at. Kahwi's game winner certainly makes the history look worse then it is, but outside that playoff run, its been disappointment to equal or lesser teams in the post season year over year. Embiid cant play much better then he did, and the sixers still couldnt get out of round 2 in a playoff year were the title was there for anyone who was healthy.

On top of that, they watch the competition threats get better, Miami really loaded up. The Nets supplemented their big 3. Knicks and Boston made some splashy moved. Philly needed to out-manuever those teams, and did the opposite.

Maybe its all moot and it hinges on simmons, but that is a team that needs a big change around embiid.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I don't feel like that's harsh at all even if I feel better than most about them largely running it back. Though I wish they had added a more dynamic perimeter player. I'm not convinced Maxey/is ready to be that guy in year 2. But I also think that much of that reaction was emotional in light of Simmons' 4th Q lack of shooting and of course that passed up layup that the narrative ran away from us a bit on. Don't you think its fair being able to look at it more objectively with some time removed for some to feel better about this? Even if you may still feel like a Simmons or other major shakeup had to happen? Just curious, I think both options are fine of course depending on if one believes Philly is capped as a good RS team with fatal playoff flaws like we've seen from any number of teams in the past.

I guess I just see one of their fatal weakness as not having anyone capable of effectively running the PnR to target weak defenders. Its halted them in the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons. The one time it didnt was with Jimmy Butler and they’ve never come close to replacing him. I feel like insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It feels like the Sixers are doing the same thing and praying everything works out differently this time. I think they really cant afford to waste another year of Embiids prime hoping the Simmons/Tobias/Embiid trio works, personally. Its possible I’m very wrong— I just dont see them as any closer to a title than where they were entering the offseason and would give them a C at best for that.

You're right on the weakness, though this year the Sixers got Embiid and Harris into really good matchups against the Hawks--things like Embiid 1-on-1 against Collins, Huerter on Harris--and they just couldn't deliver down the stretch. Harris runs pn'r quite a bit and they were getting him solid mismatches, he just missed jumpers. What can you do, he's not the best guy for that situation but it's also really hard to say that's just bound to happen every time. If Jrue and Middleton didn't hit a bunch of jumpers they could've easily missed, they don't beat the Nets or the Suns.

Also side-rant: that whole "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results" always seems like an empty thing that preachers and aunties say when they're trying to sound wise. You always have to assess your options and roll with the decision that seems best, which includes factoring in how much the previous outcome might repeat themselves and how much variance there might be. Seems obvious that throwing your life away immediately because you didn't achieve a very difficult thing (like a sports title) is going to move you backwards in a lot of things, sports or otherwise. (We also have other cliches that say the exact same opposite, e.g. "if at first you don't succeed, try try again.")

I think the problem with that is that Embiid has shown he just isnt able to be the hub of the offense while also being the backbone of the defense for 40+ minutes a night in the playoffs. I dont think it was a coincidence that his play dropped materially in the second half of most games. They could really use someone to spell Embiid for extended stretches.

Harris is fine, but he’s just unable to target weaker defenders like you’d ideally want from your #2 option. Said differently, he couldnt attack Trae which is exactly what Philly needed in the playoffs when Embiid ran out of gas.

[Prokorov]

I guess I just see one of their fatal weakness as not having anyone capable of effectively running the PnR to target weak defenders. Its halted them in the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons. The one time it didnt was with Jimmy Butler and they’ve never come close to replacing him. I feel like insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It feels like the Sixers are doing the same thing and praying everything works out differently this time. I think they really cant afford to waste another year of Embiids prime hoping the Simmons/Tobias/Embiid trio works, personally. Its possible I’m very wrong— I just dont see them as any closer to a title than where they were entering the offseason and would give them a C at best for that.

You're right on the weakness, though this year the Sixers got Embiid and Harris into really good matchups against the Hawks--things like Embiid 1-on-1 against Collins, Huerter on Harris--and they just couldn't deliver down the stretch. Harris runs pn'r quite a bit and they were getting him solid mismatches, he just missed jumpers. What can you do, he's not the best guy for that situation but it's also really hard to say that's just bound to happen every time. If Jrue and Middleton didn't hit a bunch of jumpers they could've easily missed, they don't beat the Nets or the Suns.

Also side-rant: that whole "insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results" always seems like an empty thing that preachers and aunties say when they're trying to sound wise. You always have to assess your options and roll with the decision that seems best, which includes factoring in how much the previous outcome might repeat themselves and how much variance there might be. Seems obvious that throwing your life away immediately because you didn't achieve a very difficult thing (like a sports title) is going to move you backwards in a lot of things, sports or otherwise. (We also have other cliches that say the exact same opposite, e.g. "if at first you don't succeed, try try again.")

I think the problem with that is that Embiid has shown he just isnt able to be the hub of the offense while also being the backbone of the defense for 40+ minutes a night in the playoffs. I dont think it was a coincidence that his play dropped materially in the second half of most games. They could really use someone to spell Embiid for extended stretches.

Harris is fine, but he’s just unable to target weaker defenders like you’d ideally want from your #2 option. Said differently, he couldnt attack Trae which is exactly what Philly needed in the playoffs when Embiid ran out of gas.

The sad part is, they had that guy.... Jimmy Butler.

[cl2117]

I'll go B-.

I think it'd have been a B/B+ if there was more clarity on the Simmons situation, but that still seems up in the air. Fair play to them for not panicking and just making a move to make a move, but the clock is ticking now and their hand seems forced at this stage. The uncertainty is a massive downgrade on their overall grading, but given that there aren't many clear options for them to resolve the situation a patient approach is wise.

Embiid extension is the most important thing here and they got that done, which is amazing for them. He's just such a beast. Gives them a floor for the life of the deal that sets them up nicely. A+++

Draft was solid for where they picked, free agency was solid too. Hit some singles, didn't take any major risks.

Prediction: Top 3 in the East.

It all comes down the Simmons situation. I think their FO is good enough to navigate that minefield, but it could very easily derail what they've got going on. If they get a Dame or Beal etc. for a Simmons led package, it's an A for them. If they take a pu pu platter of decent players and picks, it's a C because it'll be a step back. I honestly don't know where things will end up, but excited to see it play out.

[kuclas]

A lot of people don’t reliaze how much the lost of Danny green beginning of game 3 really hurt the Sixers. For a team with a lack of depth which really showed on the playoffs.

Sure Simmons had his mental breakdown. But end of game spacing guy like thybulle would not have been in their fouling 3 point shooters in the last 90 seconds costing Sixers badly.

Thybulle also couldn’t hit the side of the barn while green made
The most corner 3 in the nba all season.

So Sixers run it back with Simmons. Just hope no injury but to the other players. Their record with their starting 5 was incredible last season especially at home.