** Official 2024 Make or Break Offseason Thread **

[Ferry Avenue]

You have max cap space and a bunch of picks. Who are you going after?

I would trade Embiid for Adebayo, Herro, and picks, and sign Paul George. Then you have Maxey, George, and Herro as players with closer abilities, and your center (Adebayo) functions in a way consistent what what wins at that position in the present-day NBA -- athletically running the floor, catching lobs, getting rebounds, and playing defense.

Fair enough, but who's the QB here? Considering you can keep Maxey and sign PG, I assume it would be Herro?

Also, Jokic doesn't really play center the way you mentioned. Do you think he's cooked?

The "QB" is any one of Maxey, Herro, or George, just like it can be either Doncic or Irving with Dallas. Right now Maxey has that ability inconsistently, and the team is jamming a square peg in a round hole by having Embiid function in that capacity too often.

Jokic is an exception at center because of his exceptional court awareness and passing ability. Consequently when he's double-teamed at that position he can find the open man as opposed to turning the ball over. So his "gravity" at center results in adequate team functioning, whereas Embiid's results too often in turnovers and rushed shots as the shot clock winds down. Jokic is in essence a "point center," whereas Embiid is a more traditional center.

[zaz102]

I would trade Embiid for Adebayo, Herro, and picks, and sign Paul George. Then you have Maxey, George, and Herro as players with closer abilities, and your center (Adebayo) functions in a way consistent what what wins at that position in the present-day NBA -- athletically running the floor, catching lobs, getting rebounds, and playing defense.

Fair enough, but who's the QB here? Considering you can keep Maxey and sign PG, I assume it would be Herro?

Also, Jokic doesn't really play center the way you mentioned. Do you think he's cooked?

The "QB" is any one of Maxey, Herro, or George, just like it can be either Doncic or Irving with Dallas. Right now Maxey has that ability inconsistently, and the team is jamming a square peg in a round hole by having Embiid function in that capacity too often.

Jokic is an exception at center because of his exceptional court awareness and passing ability. Consequently when he's double-teamed at that position he can find the open man as opposed to turning the ball over. So his "gravity" at center results in adequate team functioning, whereas Embiid's results too often in turnovers and rushed shots as the shot clock winds down.

Gotcha. I don't disagree that they need another offensive weapon especially with how important Embiid is on the defensive side. I do however think that Embiid and think it's more about getting the right options.

For example, in Game 5 of the Knicks, Embiid seem to have no issue deferring to Maxey. In Game 6, Maxey was the one being focused on, so Embiid had no choice but to run the offense. And he did a pretty good job that game albeit in a losing performance of course. I would hope with someone like PG, that's giving you an two options if the defense smothers Maxey or Embiid or PG. Also, you would still have a bunch of picks as well if you needed to add something.

[Ferry Avenue]

Fair enough, but who's the QB here? Considering you can keep Maxey and sign PG, I assume it would be Herro?

Also, Jokic doesn't really play center the way you mentioned. Do you think he's cooked?

The "QB" is any one of Maxey, Herro, or George, just like it can be either Doncic or Irving with Dallas. Right now Maxey has that ability inconsistently, and the team is jamming a square peg in a round hole by having Embiid function in that capacity too often.

Jokic is an exception at center because of his exceptional court awareness and passing ability. Consequently when he's double-teamed at that position he can find the open man as opposed to turning the ball over. So his "gravity" at center results in adequate team functioning, whereas Embiid's results too often in turnovers and rushed shots as the shot clock winds down.

Gotcha. I don't disagree that they need another offensive weapon especially with how important Embiid is on the defensive side. I do however think that Embiid and think it's more about getting the right options.

For example, in Game 5 of the Knicks, Embiid seem to have no issue deferring to Maxey. In Game 6, Maxey was the one being focused on, so Embiid had no choice but to run the offense. And he did a pretty good job that game albeit in a losing performance of course. I would hope with someone like PG, that's giving you an two options if the defense smothers Maxey or Embiid or PG. Also, you would still have a bunch of picks as well if you needed to add something.

The problem is that Embiid has "gravity" in another way as well -- as a reflection of his status in the organization and tenure with the team, which makes the team turn to him in the clutch when it's ill-advised -- i.e., he's the centerpiece. I'm not sure the presence of any other player in the league can surmount that, and even if it did, where would that leave Embiid in the clutch? Hiding in the dunker's spot so he doesn't get in the way?

I think you gain more by trading him, in the form of addition by subtraction and the better fitting players you obtain, than you do by adding to him.

[SixersSince82]

Mitchell would be your bucket getter in the 4th quarter when Embiid is exhausted or double teamed and Maxey for whatever reason is on one of his hesitant stretches. If Embiid is double teamed or gassed and Maxey isn't forcing the issue, the Sixers simply aren't going to score in the 4th quarters of games in the playoffs. They need someone else who can take over.

That's precisely the problem with Embiid's attempts to function as a closer -- you can't put him at the top of the arc with the ball in a position where he can't be double-teamed, because he can't function as a penetrator off the dribble to create his own shot from that position. That leaves him elsewhere on the court and susceptible to double-teams, against which he turns the ball over too frequently. It's the equivalent of an NFL QB who can't respond well to pressure and takes sacks and throws interceptions -- instead of winning the game for you from that position, he essentially loses it.

Dallas is showing us what's needed to win championships in the NBA -- closers who are three-level scorers who can break defenders down off the dribble and create their own shot, of which they have two of the best in the game. Embiid is not one of them. Consequently Dallas is very difficult to defeat in the playoffs, whereas the Sixers can't get past the second round. They simply lack the "quarterback" necessary. They're trying to win with a "running back" in a league that wins with the passing game.

It's an antiquated approach to NBA basketball, and if they continue to be enamored with what Embiid CAN do at seven feet-plus and nearly 300 pounds, which is truly unique despite that it isn't sufficient for winning big in the league, and continue to prioritize his championship "window" as though he's the centerpiece of the team, they'll simply continue to be misguided and continue to stall at the second round or sooner.

Totally agree with this description of Embiid's game and how it's hamstringing the 6ers ability to really contend. But there's absolutely no world in which it makes sense to trade Joel and still pursue Paul George, lol.

[SixersSince82]

Miles Bridges could be our version of what Kyrie Irving is for Dallas. A star available at significantly reduced cost due to off-court issues. Not saying Bridges is as good but he'll also cost much less money and no picks.

Put him in a good environment for the first time alongside two stars and a great coach and he could breakout as a true star.

Really tough moral decision but boy from a basketball perspective Miles Bridges seems to be a no brainer.

[Ferry Avenue]

Mitchell would be your bucket getter in the 4th quarter when Embiid is exhausted or double teamed and Maxey for whatever reason is on one of his hesitant stretches. If Embiid is double teamed or gassed and Maxey isn't forcing the issue, the Sixers simply aren't going to score in the 4th quarters of games in the playoffs. They need someone else who can take over.

That's precisely the problem with Embiid's attempts to function as a closer -- you can't put him at the top of the arc with the ball in a position where he can't be double-teamed, because he can't function as a penetrator off the dribble to create his own shot from that position. That leaves him elsewhere on the court and susceptible to double-teams, against which he turns the ball over too frequently. It's the equivalent of an NFL QB who can't respond well to pressure and takes sacks and throws interceptions -- instead of winning the game for you from that position, he essentially loses it.

Dallas is showing us what's needed to win championships in the NBA -- closers who are three-level scorers who can break defenders down off the dribble and create their own shot, of which they have two of the best in the game. Embiid is not one of them. Consequently Dallas is very difficult to defeat in the playoffs, whereas the Sixers can't get past the second round. They simply lack the "quarterback" necessary. They're trying to win with a "running back" in a league that wins with the passing game.

It's an antiquated approach to NBA basketball, and if they continue to be enamored with what Embiid CAN do at seven feet-plus and nearly 300 pounds, which is truly unique despite that it isn't sufficient for winning big in the league, and continue to prioritize his championship "window" as though he's the centerpiece of the team, they'll simply continue to be misguided and continue to stall at the second round or sooner.

Totally agree with this description of Embiid's game and how it's hamstringing the 6ers ability to really contend. But there's absolutely no world in which it makes sense to trade Joel and still pursue Paul George, lol.

Pretend like Joel Embiid never existed and the team had Bam Adebayo at center and Tyler Herro at shooting guard, along with everyone else they currently have. Would it make sense with the money the have to pursue Paul George and put him at the three?

[ProcessDoctor]

Yea even though I don’t like the PG option much, I love that we still have all the picks left after signing him.

It’s evident that his era of stars is done though. We’d be signing a $50 mil 3rd option we hope pans out.

[FireMorey]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

[Mik317]

again Herro legit has made the Heat worse when he plays and George would only come here to play WITH Biid.

its not logical beyond "I hate Joel Embiid"

[ProcessDoctor]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

God I hope Morey doesn’t dick around all summer trying to get players that aren’t even on the trading block.

If no PG/LeBron, just go straight to Ingram.

[youngcrev]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

So he's plan E

[FireMorey]

People need to be careful not to fall into the recency bias trap with Dallas. Dallas is not that great of a team. You do not want to construct a roster based off of their model. This is just a weird year for the playoffs.

[Mik317]

two scorers and a bunch of athletes and shooters isn't exactly a novel concept anyway

[the_process]

People need to be careful not to fall into the recency bias trap with Dallas. Dallas is not that great of a team. You do not want to construct a roster based off of their model. This is just a weird year for the playoffs.

The league is trending towards parity. Dallas is the kind of team that wins in that environment. Two closers and a bunch of athletes. I like their chances against Boston because they will always have the best player on the court, and when Tatum and Brown are not shooting the lights out they will have the two best players on the court. Also Luka has had a few games where he has just killed Boston. Lively really needs to be okay and back for the Finals for them, though.

[the_process]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

God I hope Morey doesn’t dick around all summer trying to get players that aren’t even on the trading block.

If no PG/LeBron, just go straight to Ingram.

If that’s really Morey’s list, then agreed go straight to Ingram. What the cost gonna be? Would be okay with two 1sts for Ingram, although it’s not great. More than that, and we’re looking at the Tobias trade all over again.

Why is Morey leaking all over the place? Someone over there, I assume it’s him but maybe it’s Elton, talks way too much. Play the damn cards way closer to your chest, Morey. You can give reporters stories without giving them information.

[PhillyFan11]

People need to be careful not to fall into the recency bias trap with Dallas. Dallas is not that great of a team. You do not want to construct a roster based off of their model. This is just a weird year for the playoffs.

It’s a coincidence that it’s “just a weird year for the playoffs” at the same time that the new CBA kicked in? Yeah I wouldn’t bet on that.

[mjkvol]

People need to be careful not to fall into the recency bias trap with Dallas. Dallas is not that great of a team. You do not want to construct a roster based off of their model. This is just a weird year for the playoffs.

You need to explain the downside of building a roster based on a model of two stars who happen to also be killer closers and a bunch of athletic role players who fit what they want to do, because I'm not seeing it.

[mjkvol]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

God I hope Morey doesn’t dick around all summer trying to get players that aren’t even on the trading block.

If no PG/LeBron, just go straight to Ingram.

I would far prefer for Morey to "dick around" and wait for the right moves rather than diving in and doing something stupid, like giving a max contract to an aging "star" or trading assets for a lesser player just because media "experts" have deemed these to be his only options. Even if it takes the whole damn summer.

[ProcessDoctor]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

God I hope Morey doesn’t dick around all summer trying to get players that aren’t even on the trading block.

If no PG/LeBron, just go straight to Ingram.

I would far prefer for Morey to "dick around" and wait for the right moves rather than diving in and doing something stupid, like giving a max contract to an aging "star" or trading assets for a lesser player just because media "experts" have deemed these to be his only options. Even if it takes the whole damn summer.

And field what team next year? Phoenix 2.0?

Durant isn’t going anywhere and Riley will extract every ounce of value in a Butler trade, which would be well after every helpful FA is off the market.

Morey can’t afford to miss out this summer.

[ProcessDoctor]

Kevin O'Connor says PG is plan A(duh) but he said if the Sixers can't get Lebron/Durant/Butler, then right now Ingram is plan B. That would be kind of a disaster.

God I hope Morey doesn’t dick around all summer trying to get players that aren’t even on the trading block.

If no PG/LeBron, just go straight to Ingram.

If that’s really Morey’s list, then agreed go straight to Ingram. What the cost gonna be? Would be okay with two 1sts for Ingram, although it’s not great. More than that, and we’re looking at the Tobias trade all over again.

Why is Morey leaking all over the place? Someone over there, I assume it’s him but maybe it’s Elton, talks way too much. Play the damn cards way closer to your chest, Morey. You can give reporters stories without giving them information.

Ingram is a great example of a distressed asset. One year ago I think most people would’ve killed to acquire him in a Harden trade.

For example, think of Aaron Gordon’s value now vs when he was traded to Denver. Nobody wanted him. Turns out he was just in the wrong situation. It’s extremely difficult to get a good-great player at their peak.

Ingram is a connector for Maxey and Embiid the way Gordon is to Murray and Jokic. None of them are the same players, but the way they fit together I think enhances each of their individual abilities.