Tank Watch 2025

[Negrodamus]

Gotta trade PG to go full tank otherwise it’s not going to work. I am excited about Maxey going full Bradley Beal and averaging 30+ a game for the rest of the year, lol.

[Zumramania]

I don't think PG and Embiid care about winning the championships and such anymore since they got their contracts. But I also don't know if Joel will want to do it for multiple next years: rehabbing, playing, getting injured, rehabbing etc. I guess after two more years of this he will retire.
It's unfortunate that the entire team is built around Embiid. I mean, if could move him, and get a decent starting center who is good at rebounding, this would not be a bad team once McCain returns. Also if we manage to tank this year and get that pick. The team would be fun to watch I think, with quite a few promising young players: Maxey, McCain, the pick, and you also have PG. Morey has drafted really well until now, if nothing else, so he would probably make the most out of that pick. Ironically I think Morey is a much better GM for rebuilding and building through draft than for assembling a star studded roster, which is what he has been desperately trying to do so far.
I just don't think he has the guts to move away from Embiid.

[FlyingArrow]

There are two types of tanks. One is a one-year tank where we try for a draft pick and try to win next year with Embiid, PG, and the rest. The other is a total rebuild. That involves trading PG and Embiid, which is apparently all but impossible in the new era.

For now, we are well positioned to do one of two things:
* Rally at the end of the year to make the play-in, where if everyone is healthy for the playoffs (an option apparently not even on the table for McCain) we should still take that shot. We'd be a long shot, but healthy Embiid with Maxey and healthy PG is capable of winning any series.

* Or tank and drop into a good lottery position.

As it is now... we're likely to stay right where we are and do neither. No playoffs. Not even the play-in. And basically the worst draft pick possible for a non-playoff team. Worst of all situations.

[Eyeamok]

There are two types of tanks. One is a one-year tank where we try for a draft pick and try to win next year with Embiid, PG, and the rest. The other is a total rebuild. That involves trading PG and Embiid, which is apparently all but impossible in the new era.

For now, we are well positioned to do one of two things:
* Rally at the end of the year to make the play-in, where if everyone is healthy for the playoffs (an option apparently not even on the table for McCain) we should still take that shot. We'd be a long shot, but healthy Embiid with Maxey and healthy PG is capable of winning any series.

* Or tank and drop into a good lottery position.

As it is now... we're likely to stay right where we are and do neither. No playoffs. Not even the play-in. And basically the worst draft pick possible for a non-playoff team. Worst of all situations.

I love your positive out look on things. But a lot can happen (good) between now and the lottery that could boost this teams chances. Zion playes out the rest of the season and helps the 76ers in the standings. The Hornets and the Nets end up winning more games than us, quite possible. And because Harris kissed the ring of Silver in the new arena deal we could easily end up with the 3rd pick.

[76ciology]

Certainly, it’s better to get our pick back than to end up without a draft pick entirely.

However, when you break down this draft class, only three players—Cooper, Dylan, and probably Kasparas—have the potential to be true alphas on an NBA team. Beyond them, the next tier includes Bailey, Edgecombe, Knueppel, and Traore. You can also add Demin and Queen, both have flamed out since their hot start. The guys after the top 3 picks are more developmental prospects and aren’t projected to become franchise altering players. I also don’t see any of them being better than Paul George within the next 2-3 years.

Trading George to tank feels like solving a headache by cutting off your feet. Sure, it might ease the pain in the short term and make things seem manageable, but you’ll quickly realize it was a mistake when you need to start walking again.

[phifans]

Certainly, it’s better to get our pick back than to end up without a draft pick entirely.

However, when you break down this draft class, only three players—Cooper, Dylan, and probably Kasparas—have the potential to be true alphas on an NBA team. Beyond them, the next tier includes Bailey, Edgecombe, Knueppel, and Traore. You can also add Demin and Queen, both have flamed out since their hot start. The guys after the top 3 picks are more developmental prospects and aren’t projected to become franchise altering players. I also don’t see any of them being better than Paul George within the next 2-3 years.

Trading George to tank feels like solving a headache by cutting off your feet. Sure, it might ease the pain in the short term and make things seem manageable, but you’ll quickly realize it was a mistake when you need to start walking again.

OM you're learning so quickly !!!

And I don't think PG would ruin anyone's tank. I would feel more comfortable if our tank is leaded by PG instead of Maxey.

[MVP1992]

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[elchengue20]

I'll trade PG to get off his already bad contract, not because of tanking, that part doesn't concern me.

He ain't that good anymore to lift this bad team to wins, also he's going to become more and more disengaged as the losses continue to pile up.

Plus, we can give him a good healthy chunk of load management.

[76ciology]

Certainly, it’s better to get our pick back than to end up without a draft pick entirely.

However, when you break down this draft class, only three players—Cooper, Dylan, and probably Kasparas—have the potential to be true alphas on an NBA team. Beyond them, the next tier includes Bailey, Edgecombe, Knueppel, and Traore. You can also add Demin and Queen, both have flamed out since their hot start. The guys after the top 3 picks are more developmental prospects and aren’t projected to become franchise altering players. I also don’t see any of them being better than Paul George within the next 2-3 years.

Trading George to tank feels like solving a headache by cutting off your feet. Sure, it might ease the pain in the short term and make things seem manageable, but you’ll quickly realize it was a mistake when you need to start walking again.

OM you're learning so quickly !!!

And I don't think PG would ruin anyone's tank. I would feel more comfortable if our tank is leaded by PG instead of Maxey.

What do you mean by “you’re learning so quickly!!” I dont get it.

The tank should be lead with Justin Edwards playing point guard.

That’s what smart teams like the Spurs would do. They had Sochan playing point guard on that season where they tanked for Wemby.

[76ciology]

Our best move is to avoid trading Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey.

Then we should tank to recover the pick by sitting out Biid, George and Maxey, then use it as trade capital for an upgrade. With that pick, we could target someone like Kuminga or Cam Johnson.

Heading into the season, we’d have the player acquired with the 2025 pick, McCain, and possibly Justin Edwards. From there, we roll the dice and see how things play out.

We can also call the Thunders and tell them our plan, and offer them to trade us Caruso for KJ Martin, where we compensate them by absorbing Caruso’s contract and removing the top 6 protection.

I can see that as a position Morey would like to be in.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Portland beat Chicago tonight. We should pass them up soon.

[Negrodamus]

Our best move is to avoid trading Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey.

Then we should tank to recover the pick by sitting out Biid, George and Maxey, then use it as trade capital for an upgrade. With that pick, we could target someone like Kuminga or Cam Johnson.

Heading into the season, we’d have the player acquired with the 2025 pick, McCain, and possibly Justin Edwards. From there, we roll the dice and see how things play out.

We can also call the Thunders and tell them our plan, and offer them to trade us Caruso for KJ Martin, where we compensate them by absorbing Caruso’s contract and removing the top 6 protection.

I can see that as a position Morey would like to be in.

The league obviously won’t allow a healthy Maxey, PG, and Embiid to sit out as we’ve seen earlier this season. Tanking by willfully not going after stars or quality veterans in the off-season and stockpiling draft picks Uris one thing, simply not playing stars is a completely different thing.

[JordanMars]

Our best move is to avoid trading Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey.

Then we should tank to recover the pick by sitting out Biid, George and Maxey, then use it as trade capital for an upgrade. With that pick, we could target someone like Kuminga or Cam Johnson.

Heading into the season, we’d have the player acquired with the 2025 pick, McCain, and possibly Justin Edwards. From there, we roll the dice and see how things play out.

We can also call the Thunders and tell them our plan, and offer them to trade us Caruso for KJ Martin, where we compensate them by absorbing Caruso’s contract and removing the top 6 protection.

I can see that as a position Morey would like to be in.

The league obviously won’t allow a healthy Maxey, PG, and Embiid to sit out as we’ve seen earlier this season. Tanking by willfully not going after stars or quality veterans in the off-season and stockpiling draft picks Uris one thing, simply not playing stars is a completely different thing.

Im sure we can make up some more phantom injuries. The PG “groin tightness” and “ankle” flair ups that have held him out the past few games are evidence of that.

[JordanMars]

im just worried that the bulls will try and out tank us out of play-in. they have lost 5 in a row and schedule is brutal

[Negrodamus]

Our best move is to avoid trading Embiid, Paul George, and Maxey.

Then we should tank to recover the pick by sitting out Biid, George and Maxey, then use it as trade capital for an upgrade. With that pick, we could target someone like Kuminga or Cam Johnson.

Heading into the season, we’d have the player acquired with the 2025 pick, McCain, and possibly Justin Edwards. From there, we roll the dice and see how things play out.

We can also call the Thunders and tell them our plan, and offer them to trade us Caruso for KJ Martin, where we compensate them by absorbing Caruso’s contract and removing the top 6 protection.

I can see that as a position Morey would like to be in.

The league obviously won’t allow a healthy Maxey, PG, and Embiid to sit out as we’ve seen earlier this season. Tanking by willfully not going after stars or quality veterans in the off-season and stockpiling draft picks Uris one thing, simply not playing stars is a completely different thing.

Im sure we can make up some more phantom injuries. The PG “groin tightness” and “ankle” flair ups that have held him out the past few games are evidence of that.

So he’s going to miss 2/3 of the rest of the games with groin tightness? That seems unlikely.

[Arsenal]

The league obviously won’t allow a healthy Maxey, PG, and Embiid to sit out as we’ve seen earlier this season. Tanking by willfully not going after stars or quality veterans in the off-season and stockpiling draft picks Uris one thing, simply not playing stars is a completely different thing.

Im sure we can make up some more phantom injuries. The PG “groin tightness” and “ankle” flair ups that have held him out the past few games are evidence of that.

So he’s going to miss 2/3 of the rest of the games with groin tightness? That seems unlikely.

He can always sprain an ankle at practice, tweak the knee again, or even come down with the flu. Some times you just have bad luck!

[SixthStreet]

George is old. He can have a series of old man nagging injuries that make him miss 2/3rd of games until we can actually shut him down.

[phillynative]

Im sure we can make up some more phantom injuries. The PG “groin tightness” and “ankle” flair ups that have held him out the past few games are evidence of that.

So he’s going to miss 2/3 of the rest of the games with groin tightness? That seems unlikely.

He can always sprain an ankle at practice, tweak the knee again, or even come down with the flu. Some times you just have bad luck!

Would be par for the course as a 76er

[mksp]

so frustrating watching the success of OKC and HOU knowing that this was the path Hinkie had laid out for us before Silver and the Colangelos ruined it.

Meanwhile, OKC and HOU were allowed to tank as hard as they wanted with no repercussions.

[Negrodamus]

Im sure we can make up some more phantom injuries. The PG “groin tightness” and “ankle” flair ups that have held him out the past few games are evidence of that.

So he’s going to miss 2/3 of the rest of the games with groin tightness? That seems unlikely.

He can always sprain an ankle at practice, tweak the knee again, or even come down with the flu. Some times you just have bad luck!

The NBA would definitely take those at face value. They have never meddled with our organization due to tanking because of injuries. They certainly wouldn’t send any kind of third party auditor to check on the legitimacy of the injuries. That wouldn’t be Silver’s MO.