Sixers Offseason Thread Part 5

[Jailblazers7]

Maxey should be on an All NBA team this year imo.

[ivysixer2000]

How good can Maxey be this year? Can he leap to a top 20 overall? There are still things about his offensive skill package I'm not a fan of, but now I know that he's going to keep adding something major to his toolkit every offseason. I think Embiid definitely sets a good example.

If he becomes a shot creator in the mid-range he's got a chance to get to top 20 this year. His playmaking is under-rated because he's not yet a multi-level shot creator and if he's doing the former the latter will make a jump as well.

He may become one of the 10-12 best offensive players on the planet if he can. That is insane to me that it's even possible. He truly saved the Process.

I'd argue he's top 20 now. If he can get midrange down he'll be top 8 to 12 by the end of the year. Sky is the limit for this kid. With his work ethic he has MVP potential.

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Well he made the All-Star team if that means anything, which is 24 of the top players. All NBA would be 15 players. I think the added muscle will absolutely help him if he hasn't lost his touch.

As much as he's in the gym, I seriously doubt he has lost his touch.

[76ciology]

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Yabusele was an impressive specimen during his time with the Celtics, standing at 6’8” with a 7’2” wingspan and a muscular build. He appears more experienced now, and his shooting stood out in the match between France and Canada. He might be worth considering.

[FireMorey]

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Don't think he was ever realistic. Would've taken every pick and hard capped them. And also would need to throw in a bunch of players at the deadline to get him.

Scratch him off the Feb deadline trade list.

[ProcessDoctor]

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Don't think he was ever realistic. Would've taken every pick and hard capped them. And also would need to throw in a bunch of players at the deadline to get him.

Scratch him off the Feb deadline trade list.

Yea our window to get him was immediately post-PG signing with the rest of the cap space. Onto the next one, whoever that may be *cough* Tari Eason *cough*

[the_process]

Barkley with PG is a must listen.

[HotelVitale]

Probably already been talked to death but got COVID so been watching videos of our new guys (again) and realized-- I really don't think the SL everyone assumes we're going to have is gonna be the play. At least not for every game for the first couple months. Three main reasons:
1) Maxey's never been very effective as the main 1 (doesn't maximize his strengths and costs us more of a real initiating 1 as well)
2) Oubre and Martin are shaky and streaky shooters around the big 3 (and that would be their main role)
3) the rebounding, as everyone has said

I know the main season-long solution is to shop KJ+pick(s) for a legit 4 but I think that, even leading up to that, we could definitely see either of these lineups:
Jackson/Lowry
Maxey/Gordon
C Martin/Oubre
PG/KJ (or new signing)
Embiid/Drummond
-Notes: Jackson's looked more or less as good as Oubre or Martin, and he could fulfill this role pretty well; plus Caleb and Oubre aren't really 2s and the shooting and spacing/passing in this SL would be sick, especially with Maxey playing off ball; I know PG doesn't want to play 4 and the reb issues dont go away, but it honestly makes a lot of sense to me (and leaves a pretty strong 2nd unit as well if we want to play more of a full bench mob)

Maxey/Jackson
C Martin/Gordon
PG/Oubre
Marcus Morris/ Oubre or PG
Embiid/Drum
-Notes: weird that Morris would start while being our like 13th best guy but he can shoot and kinda rebound and defend, and it feels like a better use of everyone else--having just one streak shooter and a reliable 40%-y should make that sing, while again leaving a pretty versatile second unit; rebounding still trouble but that's the best for our options

[LeonJordanJr24]

JT Thor ??

[ivysixer2000]

Well a PF would help, especially if he is capable of starting even as a role player. I just don't think Morris is that guy personally wise, but on the bench fine. I could just see him ball hogging when he shouldn't do that.

Rebounding is a concern, but with Maxey's added strength, maybe he could get his up. With his speed and new strength, no way his rebounding should be as low as it is even for his position. Course I'm not holding my breath.

[the_process]

JT Thor ??

Would be worth taking a training camp flyer if Thor is open to that. He was pretty bad with Charlotte, though.

Sixers aren't in any hurry to sign their last minimum.

[NearingZero]

Probably already been talked to death but got COVID so been watching videos of our new guys (again) and realized-- I really don't think the SL everyone assumes we're going to have is gonna be the play. At least not for every game for the first couple months. Three main reasons:
1) Maxey's never been very effective as the main 1 (doesn't maximize his strengths and costs us more of a real initiating 1 as well)
2) Oubre and Martin are shaky and streaky shooters around the big 3 (and that would be their main role)
3) the rebounding, as everyone has said

I know the main season-long solution is to shop KJ+pick(s) for a legit 4 but I think that, even leading up to that, we could definitely see either of these lineups:
Jackson/Lowry
Maxey/Gordon
C Martin/Oubre
PG/KJ (or new signing)
Embiid/Drummond
-Notes: Jackson's looked more or less as good as Oubre or Martin, and he could fulfill this role pretty well; plus Caleb and Oubre aren't really 2s and the shooting and spacing/passing in this SL would be sick, especially with Maxey playing off ball; I know PG doesn't want to play 4 and the reb issues dont go away, but it honestly makes a lot of sense to me (and leaves a pretty strong 2nd unit as well if we want to play more of a full bench mob)

Maxey/Jackson
C Martin/Gordon
PG/Oubre
Marcus Morris/ Oubre or PG
Embiid/Drum
-Notes: weird that Morris would start while being our like 13th best guy but he can shoot and kinda rebound and defend, and it feels like a better use of everyone else--having just one streak shooter and a reliable 40%-y should make that sing, while again leaving a pretty versatile second unit; rebounding still trouble but that's the best for our options

The main issue with Jackson + Maxey is on-ball & perimeter defense. Even if Maxey improves his defense this year, I don't want him having to put too much effort toward it.

I don't think Oubre was particularly good on defense last year, but he got better. He also made comments after re-signing that perhaps indicate a willingness to have a more defense-oriented role. If he can step up his defensive game (and be a little more efficient on offense), then Maxey/Oubre/Martin/PG/Embiid still makes sense to me in many matchups. Against an especially big team, or a team that applies a lot of ball pressure, I could definitely see them changing things up.

[Sixerscan]

Probably already been talked to death but got COVID so been watching videos of our new guys (again) and realized-- I really don't think the SL everyone assumes we're going to have is gonna be the play. At least not for every game for the first couple months. Three main reasons:
1) Maxey's never been very effective as the main 1 (doesn't maximize his strengths and costs us more of a real initiating 1 as well)
2) Oubre and Martin are shaky and streaky shooters around the big 3 (and that would be their main role)
3) the rebounding, as everyone has said

These are reasonable concerns but I would say in response:

1. Maxey still very young and at this point arguably the single most important thing for this team going forward in the short and long term is Maxey's development into the best and complete player he can be. So let him continue to develop those instincts instead of pigeonholing him into being a 2 guard.

Also it's not like it's been a disaster, they were a top 10 offense in '22 before trading for Harden and a top 5 offense last year before Embiid got hurt. And that was with Tobias as the third guy, which leads me to...

George on top of being a good scorer is also a very capable secondary ball handler and was playing a lot of "point" for the Clippers before they got Harden so you do sort of already have another guy in the lineup there.

2. Fair though they can attack the rim which creates pressure for teams to cover them in its own way. Also a part of Maxey's and George's value is they are, on top of other things, elite catch and shoot guys, which changes the calculus a bit from the traditional main guys we've had in the past that either wouldn't or couldn't do that.

3. Also fair though I do think people are underrating how much of the rebounding issues were from playing a 6 foot 37 year old Lowry with Maxey instead of a bigger wing. Also just for example Oubre and Morris had basically identical rebounds per minute last year (both around 6/36) so I'm not sure how much a difference that would really make. It will be an issue regardless until they trade for someone, just a question of how big.

[76ciology]

I mentioned the Reggie Jackson and Tyrese Maxey backcourt weeks ago. While it might not be our starting lineup, it's something we can deploy against tight defenses when we need more speed and players who can effectively break down defenses, drive, shoot, and pass.

It also fits well with our rotation, where we can have Reggie Jackson or Kyle Lowry at point guard, and Maxey or Eric Gordon at shooting guard.

But where it gets tricky is it seems like both Oubre and Martin are both likely to start.

[NearingZero]

Found an article from a couple years ago about Nurse and starting lineups. Sounds like he's very open to varying the starting lineup based on matchups, but he also recognizes the value of cohesion. And he knows the players care about it.

I'll be curious to see how much of a "team player" Oubre is this year. He's still trying to lock down a longer, better contract. But if he's open to being moved in and out of the starting lineup, and really embraces doing whatever the team needs at any given time, it would give Nurse a lot of flexibility. I also think, given the way the cap/aprons work for the Sixers, he can earn an upgraded contract by being a critical role player, even if his scoring dips a fair amount.

[ProcessDoctor]

Can we trade for a vet min without sending salary out?

I want Torrey Craig.

[76ciology]

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[sixerguy]

Found an article from a couple years ago about Nurse and starting lineups. Sounds like he's very open to varying the starting lineup based on matchups, but he also recognizes the value of cohesion. And he knows the players care about it.

He's not open. He continued to insert Tobias into the starting lineup for like the entire year. He also never paired Reed with Joel.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Found an article from a couple years ago about Nurse and starting lineups. Sounds like he's very open to varying the starting lineup based on matchups, but he also recognizes the value of cohesion. And he knows the players care about it.

He's not open. He continued to insert Tobias into the starting lineup for like the entire year. He also never paired Reed with Joel.

Tobias was making 40 million dollars a year. You don't make that kind of money to come off the bench. While I agree that Reed/Embiid should have at least been attempted, I don't think it would have ever worked. Reed couldn't shoot his way out of a XXX film and the spacing would have been disastrous.

[ivysixer2000]

Found an article from a couple years ago about Nurse and starting lineups. Sounds like he's very open to varying the starting lineup based on matchups, but he also recognizes the value of cohesion. And he knows the players care about it.

He's not open. He continued to insert Tobias into the starting lineup for like the entire year. He also never paired Reed with Joel.

Tobias was making 40 million dollars a year. You don't make that kind of money to come off the bench. While I agree that Reed/Embiid should have at least been attempted, I don't think it would have ever worked. Reed couldn't shoot his way out of a XXX film and the spacing would have been disastrous.

Yeah, I don't know why a Reed/Jojo lineup would work. Reed has no skill at all that stands out. Nothing at all.

Heck, I would rather see a Drummond/Jojo lineup than that. At least we would dominate the boards. Btw, I'm not against trying that during the regular season coming up, since we are so worried about rebounding. Worth a try, definitely over Reed's no skilled ass.

[HotelVitale]

Probably already been talked to death but got COVID so been watching videos of our new guys (again) and realized-- I really don't think the SL everyone assumes we're going to have is gonna be the play. At least not for every game for the first couple months. Three main reasons:
1) Maxey's never been very effective as the main 1 (doesn't maximize his strengths and costs us more of a real initiating 1 as well)
2) Oubre and Martin are shaky and streaky shooters around the big 3 (and that would be their main role)
3) the rebounding, as everyone has said

These are reasonable concerns but I would say in response:

1. Maxey still very young and at this point arguably the single most important thing for this team going forward in the short and long term is Maxey's development into the best and complete player he can be. So let him continue to develop those instincts instead of pigeonholing him into being a 2 guard.

Also it's not like it's been a disaster, they were a top 10 offense in '22 before trading for Harden and a top 5 offense last year before Embiid got hurt. And that was with Tobias as the third guy, which leads me to...

George on top of being a good scorer is also a very capable secondary ball handler and was playing a lot of "point" for the Clippers before they got Harden so you do sort of already have another guy in the lineup there.

2. Fair though they can attack the rim which creates pressure for teams to cover them in its own way. Also a part of Maxey's and George's value is they are, on top of other things, elite catch and shoot guys, which changes the calculus a bit from the traditional main guys we've had in the past that either wouldn't or couldn't do that.

3. Also fair though I do think people are underrating how much of the rebounding issues were from playing a 6 foot 37 year old Lowry with Maxey instead of a bigger wing. Also just for example Oubre and Morris had basically identical rebounds per minute last year (both around 6/36) so I'm not sure how much a difference that would really make. It will be an issue regardless until they trade for someone, just a question of how big.

I wasn't listing those as problems that we must solve at any costs, more like factors that would influence the lineup decisions I was talking about.

So the lineup with Reggie Jackson starting isn't just a fix for Maxey not being good as a 1, it's also balances the lineup a little more for point 2) and makes the passing and shooting better. And lets Oubre be more of a guy in the 2nd unit too (which as of right now is way too heavy on the small initiators). That was inspired by watching RJ tape from last season and seeing he's still a good decision maker and pn'r guy who's also not tiny--I don't hate him as playing the non-midget version of what Lowry did last year. And I also don't think he's worse than Oubre generally in a starting support role (though Oubre can do more than him in some ways). Might depend on if Jackson-Maxey can survive on defense against the other team's starting backcourt.

The other lineup isn't so much about rebounding as letting there be a simple floor-spacer while the big 3 are out there. Morris is used to catch and shoot spacing and deferring to better initiators and I think he'd actually be quite good in that role in the SL--got a quick trigger and knows how to let other guys cook. Martin and Oubre on other hand are both better at attacking closeouts...but they'd also both be better initiating more in 2nd unit lineups too. Oubre would probably finish a lot of games but feels like Morris might be steadier support to start games.

I'm probably just spinning wheels since we obviously don't have an ideal lineup now. Hoping we try a bunch of stuff and get to take advantage of the initiators we have now, and I'm not too worried either way. Should be lot of weapons for the RS.