Sixers Offseason Thread Part 3

[Arsenal]

For those people complaining that Harris is cheap; he also fired 2 coaches who were both still under contract and has to pay them while still paying top dollar for their replacement.

I know it's an easy "low hanging fruit" but if ownership were cheap they'd refuse to replace coaches until their contracts expired.

Ownership also wouldn't spend money to make the arena family friendly; but this ownership has put a lot of effort into entertainment beyond the game.

He should have been fired into the sun immediately after the meltdown against Atlanta. The only reason he wasn’t was because ownership was too cheap to do it.

[Snotbubbles]

The amount of people that have BBall penciled in as the starting 4 is insane to me.

Starting PF, or just a PF playing meaningful minutes, whatever. As Stanford wrote right after you, the hope is that Reed can log meaningful minutes. It the other four players on the court all can shoot 3s and spread the court-- say, Maxey, Harden, and Embiid-- then it shouldn't really matter that Reed doesn't (at present) have a reliable 3.

That worked so well for the Sixers in the playoffs...then the Celtics stopped guarding Tucker (and Tucker shot nearly 40% from 3 last year). You can't play 5 on 4 on offense.

[youngcrev]

The amount of people that have BBall penciled in as the starting 4 is insane to me.

Starting PF, or just a PF playing meaningful minutes, whatever. As Stanford wrote right after you, the hope is that Reed can log meaningful minutes. It the other four players on the court all can shoot 3s and spread the court-- say, Maxey, Harden, and Embiid-- then it shouldn't really matter that Reed doesn't (at present) have a reliable 3.

Personally, I think Nurse sees him as Chris Boucher 2.0. A lot of people really undervalue Boucher as a player. If Reed can do for us what Boucher has done for Toronto, then we're going to be a much better defensive team. If Reed can hit a consistent three, then he'll be starting for us in 2024.

Boucher, good comparison, maybe even better than mine of Paul Millsap. If he's significantly like either, he should play meaningful minutes.

Because he's never played the 4 and is an awkward offensive fit with Embiid. I'd like to see him get minutes there, but I think his skill set fits more naturally at the 5 spot in today's NBA.

I hear what you're saying, I really do, but I just can't agree that Reed fits naturally at the 5. He plays better as a 4. If by the stipulation "in today's NBA" you mean that other teams play "small ball" so often that a 6'9" guy can hang with their so-called centers, OK, but all that point really means is that any given natural PF can play the position formerly known as C against other PFs. I maintain that there's still a forward spot for the Millsaps of this world, especially if they can also protect the rim (as Reed can).

I don't see the Millsap comparison whatsoever. Different builds, different skill sets. You're talking a multi-time all star with legit ball skills. BBall is a rim runner/offensive rebounder. BBall also has over 2 inches on him.

[Snotbubbles]

I don't see the Millsap comparison whatsoever. Different builds, different skill sets. You're talking a multi-time all star with legit ball skills. BBall is a rim runner/offensive rebounder. BBall also has over 2 inches on him.

If he wants to see more playing time he better develop that 3 point shot. He makes a ton of sense as a PF with this roster. But if he can't shoot, he's not going to get anything more than Embiid's scraps and he'll be fighting with Bamba for those.

[Arsenal]

The amount of people that have BBall penciled in as the starting 4 is insane to me.

Starting PF, or just a PF playing meaningful minutes, whatever. As Stanford wrote right after you, the hope is that Reed can log meaningful minutes. It the other four players on the court all can shoot 3s and spread the court-- say, Maxey, Harden, and Embiid-- then it shouldn't really matter that Reed doesn't (at present) have a reliable 3.

That worked so well for the Sixers in the playoffs...then the Celtics stopped guarding Tucker (and Tucker shot nearly 40% from 3 last year). You can't play 5 on 4 on offense.

That’s the point. Tucker doesn’t space the floor anyway so might as well put in a guy who is more athletic, a better rebounder, and better shot blocker instead.

[Negrodamus]

I'd love it if we did a Tobias trade for either Hield + Nwora or for something around DeRozan (would take a little finessing). Hield likely works better, but we're smaller with him. DeMar is what Tobi thinks he is on offense; definitely worst defensively. Would need to figure out how to make the Harden/DeRozan offense work but at least we'd have some options to generate baskets in the playoffs between Maxey, Harden, DeRozan and Embiid.

[rocketsfan100]

This is a typical morey move. He will set a baseline what he thinks is at the very least minimal value in return. He also sets a timeline and tries his best to get the said value in that timeframe.


I think it probably is going to be a trade done but it might go for another 5 weeks .

[Ben]

Starting PF, or just a PF playing meaningful minutes, whatever. As Stanford wrote right after you, the hope is that Reed can log meaningful minutes. It the other four players on the court all can shoot 3s and spread the court-- say, Maxey, Harden, and Embiid-- then it shouldn't really matter that Reed doesn't (at present) have a reliable 3.

That worked so well for the Sixers in the playoffs...then the Celtics stopped guarding Tucker (and Tucker shot nearly 40% from 3 last year). You can't play 5 on 4 on offense.

That’s the point. Tucker doesn’t space the floor anyway so might as well put in a guy who is more athletic, a better rebounder, and better shot blocker instead.

Just what I was going to say. The Sixers played 4 on 5 on offense all season long with Tucker. I hated most of those minutes. Tucker wouldn't take shots unless he was wide open, and even then sometimes. Reed makes scoring moves, both with his back to the basket and facing up. There's just no comparison.

I don't see the Millsap comparison whatsoever. Different builds, different skill sets. You're talking a multi-time all star with legit ball skills. BBall is a rim runner/offensive rebounder. BBall also has over 2 inches on him.

I watched Millsap a lot as a youngster. You really don't see any similarities with rookie Millsap and the limited-minutes Reed that we've seen? Remember, Millsap didn't start shooting 3s with any regularity until well into his playing days. And the fact that Reed's taller (with them both being guys sometimes cast as undersized 5s) only bodes well for Bball Paul.

Watch on YouTube

[Stanford]

Ha, they do look kind of similar! Millsap is more explosive though and much smarter a player.

[Negrodamus]

This is a typical morey move. He will set a baseline what he thinks is at the very least minimal value in return. He also sets a timeline and tries his best to get the said value in that timeframe.


I think it probably is going to be a trade done but it might go for another 5 weeks .

Harden isn’t going to be traded. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.

[Ben]

Ha, they do look kind of similar! Millsap is more explosive though and much smarter a player.

No doubt. But keep in mind that's a highlight reel and he played 82 games in his rookie season, so a lot more minutes to choose from than Reed's had.
I'm happy to go with the Boucher comparison. Millsap's just the first guy who came to mind b/c I never saw him as a C either but he got played there a fair amount early on.

[Black Mage]

For those people complaining that Harris is cheap; he also fired 2 coaches who were both still under contract and has to pay them while still paying top dollar for their replacement.

I know it's an easy "low hanging fruit" but if ownership were cheap they'd refuse to replace coaches until their contracts expired.

Ownership also wouldn't spend money to make the arena family friendly; but this ownership has put a lot of effort into entertainment beyond the game.

He should have been fired into the sun immediately after the meltdown against Atlanta. The only reason he wasn’t was because ownership was too cheap to do it.

I think we can all agree that Steve Ballmer isn't a "cheap" owner for the Clippers; yet even he let Rivers keep coaching despite repeatedly losing and blowing 3-1 series leads in epic meltdown fashion.

[rocketsfan100]

This is a typical morey move. He will set a baseline what he thinks is at the very least minimal value in return. He also sets a timeline and tries his best to get the said value in that timeframe.


I think it probably is going to be a trade done but it might go for another 5 weeks .

Harden isn’t going to be traded. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.

You don’t know how strong headed this guy is. I’ve followed him enough to know once he decides something unfortunately he dosent go back. It would take a monumental shift for him to change his mind


The most unfortunate part is I think he has a better chance to win in Philadelphia than the MASH Clippers. They are never healthy. Plus noway they would have the 76ers depth in a trade .

They don’t have anyone resembling Embiid which is huge

[Negrodamus]

This is a typical morey move. He will set a baseline what he thinks is at the very least minimal value in return. He also sets a timeline and tries his best to get the said value in that timeframe.


I think it probably is going to be a trade done but it might go for another 5 weeks .

Harden isn’t going to be traded. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.

You don’t know how strong headed this guy is. I’ve followed him enough to know once he decides something unfortunately he dosent go back. It would take a monumental shift for him to change his mind


The most unfortunate part is I think he has a better chance to win in Philadelphia than the MASH Clippers. They are never healthy. Plus noway they would have the 76ers depth in a trade .

They don’t have anyone resembling Embiid which is huge

I totally get it, but Morey loves him, he has one year left on his contract, he’s running out of quality years, and he’s on a contender. He can suck it up for one year with teammates he likes and a coach he has admitted to approving or he can waste a year pouting and get absolutely rocked in free agency when no one wants to throw any large sum of money his way.

[Skates]

Clips are likely headed for a rebuild after this year, the biggest reason I don’t see them giving us draft picks for Harden unless they delude themselves that they can win a championship with him this year. They likely make a smaller move and give it a shot that and save the draft picks.

Morey won’t trade with the Clips unless there are picks involved, that cap space next year is more likely to trade for a star, likely nine left that aren’t old and broken as pure free agents in the summer.

I’m expecting we keep Harden unless the Bulls come up with a package, Harris is more likely moved this year if either goes.

[Mik317]

Oubre is a guy who you think is good but once he's on your team you see why his hasn't stuck anywhere despite his talent/toolset.

something is off there...he tanks whole lineups and every fanbase is glad to see him gone.

I know beggars can't be choosers but i'd take a shot on a mystery box player before Oubre.

[Eyeamok]

People seem to forget that PJ took pride in not scoring at all and helping the team with other things. I repeat not scoring at all, that was his thing. Even if Reed is not a lights out 3 point shooter I am sure he can get to the rim and score. Shoot Reed will grab rebounds and get points on put backs.

[76ciology]

People seem to forget that PJ took pride in not scoring at all and helping the team with other things. I repeat not scoring at all, that was his thing. Even if Reed is not a lights out 3 point shooter I am sure he can get to the rim and score. Shoot Reed will grab rebounds and get points on put backs.

Or he can just set screens for shooters like how PJ sets for Maxey, where it would be effective if Reed’s defender would sag off him just us those DeAndre-JJ screens were.

Reed can also be a threat at the dunker spot, that Jo or James can drop it to him when they drive to the basket.

Double big is a long time coming.

[76ciology]

Im not saying for sure, but I think there’s a good chance Morey can find someone as good as Haliburton talent or very close to Haliburton’s talent, post Harden. Maybe off a trade with Harden and/or Tobi this year, via draft pick or via FA next year.

While I find Harden to be better at what we need as alpha dos than Haliburton for the last two seasons.

So with that in consideration, thats why Morey opted for Harden over Haliburton.

[76ciology]

I like Siakam. Hell.. im even finding trades to get him. But I dont think we’ go after him this season.

I think Nurse is gonna let Embiid play that Siakam role. He has Siakam operating at the elbow alot too.

Then like Siakam, who’s paired at the frontcourt with OG or Boucher or Thad or Achiuwa. I think we will see more variations with the pairing with Reed or Bamba or Tucker. Then maybe even something weird like Tobias at the 3 with Biid and Bamba.

Nurse (and Bud) seem to like to structure their rotations where they run line-ups that can put their star player (milsap or giannis or siakam) into weird positions that creates a lot of mismatches.

Im assuming in Nurse interview when he was asked why Sixers struggled against the Celts, his answer was because we only know how to play Biid one way. Which is a 4 and a half out offense. Its effective but play it in a 7 game series, eventually teams get used to it.

P.S. Nurse was witnessed a lot of Biid playing 4 and defending Siakam in 2019