The Sixers Need to Draft Mikal Bridges

[TheZachAttack]

Mikal Bridges
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I'm preaching to the choir here, but man I've been looking at your team and if you guys get Mikal Bridges I think the NBA is absolutely f'ed. I'm not sure how anyone can compete with that size and length and defense and on offense Simmons in transition, Covington/Bridges/Saric shooting the ball, and Embiid in the half court.

If you don't know who he is read this: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/3/6/17082610/mikal-bridges-nba-draft-3-and-d

I think he should absolutely be your guys top get and I would think the Sixers should be willing to package future assets in terms of the #10 this year, future 1st rounders, and any assets not named Simmons/Fultz/Covington/Saric/Embiid. You guys have a ton of roster flexibility too since Amir Johnson, Reddick, Bellenelli, and Illysolva are all coming off giving you 38 million in cap space for next season and 60 million before you hit the luxury tax.
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The Sixers Cap Situation Going Forward
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Signing Simmons and Saric

Looking forward, Simmons and Embiid are obviously max guys....it's nice to have Embiid already settled...but Simmons is gonna get 30ish m per year in a max deal and you have to factor that in long term--so you probably have closer to 15-20m or maybe 25m in cap to play with than 35-40.

It's really nice to have Covington locked down on such a team friendly deal. Saric is going to get paid big time too. His kind of shooting ability and secondary ball creation from the 4 spot makes him a perfect player in the modern NBA. Both Simmons and Saric don't need to be paid until after 2 more seasons. So the Sixers should look to sign players in FA to 2 year deals if they do look to sign guys because they are both going to be costly.

Simmons/Covington/Saric/Embiid is a great core and starting lineup to build around, but they will be costly...likely costing the Sixers $90-95 million. Now the salary cap should continue to go up, which will help...but even a salary cap near 115-120m means you only have 20-30 million to fill out your remaining 5 or 6 rotation spots (and then fill out your end of bench).

Adding Bridges

If the Sixers can add Mikal Bridges they will be adding a guy on a cheap rookie contract that will fit perfectly with their lineup. Embiid and Simmons dominate the ball a lot and Saric can create too. The best fit on this roster is a wing that is a real threat to space the floor...Reddick/Bellenelli play this role right now and it works great for the Sixers...adding a guy that can shoot like Reddick and Bellenelli can that also has the length and defensive versatiltiy to switch all 3 perimeter positions and be a plus defender from that spot would really lift the Sixers to an even higher level. Most importantly, he'll be much cheaper.

Bridges can easily be that guy and step in and shoot close to 50/40/90 from Day 1. He's a plus athlete and shooter and has got plus plus length and size for the 2 position at 6'7-6'8, ~40 inch vertical, and a 7+ foot wingspan. He'll be a monster spacing the floor, coming around screens and shooting, scoring off of cuts off ball, slashing, and finishing and running in transition.

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him step in right away and give you 15-20 points a night or so on elite efficiency. With SImmons passing ability and ability to get shots for others, Bridges won't need to create his own offense in the half-court...his biggest weakness.

Defensively, he's one of the most disruptive perimeter defendres to come out of college in recent memory. His STL and BLK %'s respectively for his college career are 3.1% and 3.6% which is INSANE. To put it in perspective. Covington's STL and BLK% (and he's among the league's best in these areas) are 2.7% and 2.0%.

Disruption metrics like these are some of the most translatable and projectable measures of performance from college to the NBA. It's extremely unlikely this defensive ability and ability to generate TOs and deflections doesn't translate. Now that number will probably come down a little bit, but adding a wing defender next to Covington who's potentially more disruptive is extremely scary.

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Moving Forward The Sixers Have A Couple of Paths
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It's important for the Sixers to be able to keep both Simmons and Saric. Having two players such as Saric and Covington combined for the price of a max player is more valuable production on this roster than adding a max player who most likely would take touches away from Simmons and Embiid. The Sixers over the coming years should look at add players that can play off of Simmons and Embiid not take touches away from them. We see it time and time again that simply adding talented players doesn't mean you get that entire value or the team is better. On my own Timberwolves, Butler was a great addition and I would not change the move that the Wolves made.

However, Butler and even Teague need the ball in their hands to be effective and thus take the ball away from other Wolves players such as Wiggins and Towns...especially Wiggins who also needs touches and volume to be effective. Overlapping playstyles and lack of spacing mean despite the talent on the Wolves, they don't maximize that talent because they force their best players to play large stretches of games in roles that don't allow them to use their best skills.

The Sixers should look to add as much shooting and length as they can around their core. Between Simmons/Embiid/Saric/Fultz the Sixers can get enough ball-handling and shot creation in situations they need to. The Sixers should explore adding a max player, but they should only do so if the fit is right and it doesn't cost them Saric.

The Sixers should only add a max player is willing to sign a 1-2 year deal and preferably that player can play off ball and is a really good shooter. I think the Sixers would benefit much more from adding a player with Paul George's playstyle than Lebron's playstyle. (Although if Lebron is willing to sign a 2 year deal obviously you do it...it just takes from Simmons production though)

Keep their Core, Stay away from Max Players, Find wing and PF Floor Spacing Role Players, Find athletic bigs that can guard in space on the perimeter, set screens, and rim run offensively

I would prefer the Sixers look to add value role players that can shoot and space the floor at the 2/3/4 positions and athletic big's that can switch and guard in space as well catch lobs in the paint and score, set screens, and play 2 man games (ala Clint Capela).

Maxing Embiid and Simmons and not adding a 3rd max player allows you to sign non-max, but extremely good players, such as Covington and Saric and then potentially Fultz and Bridges. I'm not sure if any of the 4 will be max players, but I do think that Bridges will be a Gary Harris level player (15-20m) and I think Saric is worth 15+ million too. It remains to be seen how Fultz will develop, and on a Sixer roster with Simmons (and potentially Bridges) Fultz best role for the Sixers is as a 6th man getting 24-30 minutes and running the 2nd unit through him...if he develops like the Sixers hope...he'll likely want to start and go to a different team...but it wouldn't be surprisingly to see Fultz being a 15-20+ million dollar player too.

These contracts are all 2-4 years down the line, but not having a 3rd max players should allow the Sixers to both keep their core and sign good role players that might not be elite on their own but with this roster construction can provide elite production. With a roster construction like the Sixers, guys like Redick and Bellenelli can combine for 50 points because of the type of looks they will get.

Keeping Bellenelli or Reddick and Illysolva*

On good teams veteran players will come searching for rings. Bellenelli and Illysolva have found a ton of success on the Sixers as shooters and floor spacers and benefit from the Sixers style and Simmons and other Sixers guards passing ability. Bellenelli is a lot cheaper than Redick and has proven to be a good fit. Illysolva is also a nice fit as a floor spacing big and shouldn't be extremely expensive. These were great moves for the Sixers and have made them a much better and deeper team immediately. The Sixers should look to lock up both players for relatively cheap.

Redick would be more ideal than Bellenelli, but the cost might be too high--shorter term deal would work here.

*Covington at the 4?

A wing rotation with Covington, Bridges, Bellenelli, Fultz and TLC is crowded. Another option could be to commit to a 4 lineup with Saric/Covington/Holmes. This would free up minutes to be able to get Bellennelli, Fultz, and TLC 20-25+ mpg backing up Simmons/Bridges/Covington/Saric
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What the Sixers Core Would Look Like
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Defensively on the perimeter, a Sixers lineup featuring Simmons, Bridges, and Covington all with 7'0+ wingspans and elite measurables for their position with Embiid protecting the rim behind them is a recipe for one of the best defensive teams that the NBA has ever seen...that's not hyperbole.

Offensively, Covington's 37% 3 pt/85% ft/53.5% eFG/57.1% TS - Saric's - 39.3% 3 PT/86% FT/54.1 eFG%/58.5 TS% - Bridges (college) - 40% 3 PT/84.5% FT - 61.2% eFG/65.0 TS all on volume mean that the Sixers would have one of the most efficient and best shooting 2/3/4 groups in the entire NBA.

It's easy to envision a Sixers future in which all 3 players are getting 30-36 mpg and taking 5-8 3 point attempts per game and all challenging 40+% or so...

Combine that with Embiid's projectablity as a shooter, 37% 3 pt - 78% ft as a rookie on good volume, before falling off and being much more inconsistent from 3 point distance this season (25-27% his first 20 games, 35-37% his next 31 games, 28% his last 15 games) mean that Sixers have another potential weapon in Embiid from distance allowing them to really move the ball and space the floor around Simmons ability as a passer and driver.

Simmons struggles at the FT line and a shooter are widely known, but he's so good as a ball-handler and driving to the rim...he was still able to average an eFG% of 54.5 and a TS% of 55.7 putting him 35ish and 70ish respectively in the NBA in terms of efficiency as a shooter from the floor (eFG%) and as a scorer (TS%). Meaning that while his shooting limitations keep him from being an elite shooter from the floor as well as a scorer from the field...he's won't hurt your team and still posts well above average efficiency...it remains to be seen if he can develop a jump shot...but his limitations mean that he's not a minus offensively in the way that people critique other floor generals who can't shoot well and are transcendent passers like say Ricky Rubio. Roster construction around his play style is important however.

Bench

I think the Sixers have the opportunity to have a really intriguing bench with Fultz/TLC/Holmes too although with Redick/Bellenelli/Illysolva/Amir Johnson all on the last year of their deals, a lot of work will have to be done. Fultz is obviously the guy to watch. Shooting motion controversy aside, he's shown a lot of potential as a ball-handler and a passer. Even without his shot, he's got great handles and can get into the lane and finish at the rim and is a better passer than a lot of people realized.

Markelle Fultz

It's nice that the Sixers can give Fultz a ton of developmental minutes and try to develop him by letting him lead the 2nd unit while they have the luxury of the stability that Mcconnel can provide if Fultz is struggling. I'm not sure of Mcconnel's future on the Sixers...he'd be a nice 3rd PG to keep around on the edge of your bench for pretty cheap. He's really developed himself defensively and as a shooter to go along with his passing instincts.

Since he returned late in the season, Fultz has averaged 15.5/9.3/7.0/2.6 stl + blks per 36 min (although on horrible 43/0/44.5 splits). He's only averaged 2 TO's per 36 so he's been a really good floor general. Further, he's +12.6 over that timespan 4th highest on the team (not counting Embiid because he only played 2 games).

So despite the lack of shot he's been successful against 2nd units offensively. He's also been pretty solid defensively and (not counting Embiid) 3rd on the Sixers in DEF WS and NET RTG.

Fultz has almost been like a smaller, poor man's Ben Simmon's. At 6'5 with a 7'0 wingspan...Fultz is big for the PG position and can play either guard spot and extremely long. It's encouraging that he's been as disruptive and as strong of a rebounder as he has been.

I don't think Fultz will ever be a pure shooter. In college, Fultz averaged 23/6/6/3 stl + blk/3 TO in 36 mpg on 50.2% 2 PT FG% - 41.3 3 PT FG% (5 per game) - 65 FT% (7 per game). Those shooting splits dropped to 49 2 PT - 38 3 PT - 65 FT in Conference play. The low FT percentage and looking at conference play suggest that he's more of a shotmaker than a pure shooter. I do think that Fultz will figure it out at the NBA level and find his shot, although again he'll be more of a shotmaker than a pure shooter. His 53.8 eFG and 55.8 TS% in College suggest Fultz will likely be more of an average to above average efficiency scorer rather than a good to great efficiency guy--his shot motion issues further complicate the issue.

The lack of efficiency and need for the ball to be in his hands suggest that Fultz's best role might actually be a 6th man, I do think he could be a good starter depending on if he develops his shot and thus can be a plus player off the ball too. Right now, Fultz is a minus offensively without the ball in his hands. Fultz might develop a Derrick Rose type game if the shot issues don't get fixed, where his athleticism, length, and ball-handling skills allow him to get to the rim and pass off of his penetration. I also think Fultz, because of his strong college shooting numbers with weak FT%'s, feels like he will at least develop a 16-18 foot jumper that he hits off of 2 man action. Those shots don't take as much power and are more of feel shots.

Guys who struggle to shoot like Ricky Rubio for example...are actually above average in that mid-range shooting off of a screen. This doesn't make them efficient scorers...because that's the least efficient shot even if hit at 47-50%. This is partly because guys go under screens and so the shot is open, defenses are willing to give up that shot, and guys who are better scorers and shooters in the modern NBA are taking 3's off of 2 man action instead of 16-18 footers. Even though this shot isn't an efficient shot, even that perfecting that shot and hitting at close to 50% should allow Fultz to have enough space to allow his ball-handling and ability to get to the rim play and give him a tool to use to score against Defenses that really collapse against him. Basically how Derrick Rose played/plays.

Fultz looks like he can run an offense at a lot better level than I expected from him at 19. I thought that, at least initially, Fultz was more of a combo guard/leaning towards a SG scorer/secondary creator. Early returns on his game suggest that he can play as true PG. I've been really impressed both with his ability to create for others, but maybe more importantly his ball security has been extremely good--9.3 assists to only 2.2 TO per game per 36 is extremely impressive for a player as young as Fultz.

This suggests ball-handling skills, basketball IQ, and feel for the game that is extremely advanced not just for a 19 year old, but for a veteran NBA player. It bodes extremely well for his future projecting his development into his prime.

The biggest worry I have about Fultz game projecting forward is that because of his shooting motion issues and his extreme FT struggles, Fultz tries to avoid contract when driving to the rim leading to lots of tough, high-degree of difficulty layups because Fultz is trying to avoid contract rather than go through contact and finish strong.

This would keep Fultz from finishing at a high level at the rim like he's capable of and like he did in college as well as limit his FT attempts. Those are valuable points even if he's only shooting 50-60%.

The biggest keys for Fultz will be first developing a 16-18 foot midrange pull up jumper and getting closer to 70 or even 75% at the FT line. Those shots will allow him to give himself enough space to open up his ability to get to the rim, finish at the rim at a strong percentage, and take advantage of his FT opportunities.

Once he develops those shots he can begin to work his shot out to the corners allowing him to spot up off ball and then out at the top of the key off the dribble and stuff.

First though, Fultz needs to take his development in stages. A mid-range jumper and FT improvement would allow him to use his skill set and be a plus offensive player with the ball--both as a scorer and creating for others.

From there, without as much pressure he can begin to work on the 3 point shot and becoming a threat off-ball.

The Sixers need to put him in positions to succeed, running offense through him and letting him run the 2nd unit.

Fultz had a lot of questions about his defensive ability coming out of College. Combined with his better than expected true PG skills, being a plus defensive player, generating TOs, and rebounding well for his position is also a very promising development for the Sixers. Fultz was projected to be an offensive run and gun volume scorer. Further, he was projected to probably be more of a PG sized 2 guard that would struggle defensively.

True PG skills and better than expected defensive IQ mean that you can play him as your smaller guard at the 1 next to a bigger guard. His size and length guarding 1's is pretty much ideal.

A profile that suggests an ability to run good offense that limits TOs on Offense while providing plus defense, turnover generation, and rebounding ability mean Fultz should be a guy that does really well in the +/- department despite any inconsistencies scoring the ball.

The Sixers using Fultz in a 24-30 mpg role as their primary 6th man seems like a natural fit. Assuming the Sixers get Bridges, Fultz and Bridges backcourt lineups seem extremely dangerous.

Simmons/Fultz will have to play together at times and that will be interesting because both struggle to shoot as much as they do. The defensive ability, transition prowess, and Simmon's ability to play as a big without the ball instead of on the perimeter should mean that it can work.

Covington, Saric, Bridges, etc. size, versatility, and ability to shoot should mean you can make it work too.

You could run an offensive lineup of Simmons/Fultz/Bridges/Covington/Saric and go "small". That leaves you plenty of shooting offensively while defensively you have the option to have Simmons guard the opposing team C or see if Saric and/or Covington can hold their own at 6'10ish. Opposing teams will probably be forced to go small themselves against that lineup because traditional bigs would get pulled to the perimeter and trying to guard Covington/Saric in space with true bigs would be a disaster.

I'm not sure if the player I've described is quite what you hoped for when you drafted Fultz as high as the Sixers drafted him...it's a completely different player than the player the Sixers thought they were getting. However, it seems early that there's enough there to think that Fultz led lineups can be very successful and he can be apart of a lot of + lineups especially attacking 2nd units.

Further, there's a lot more potential for further growth depending on his ability to improve his issues with his shot and find ways to score from outside the paint and without the ball.

Richaun Holmes

Holmes is the other young Sixers bench player I'm high on. It's tough for him to get minutes with Amir Johnson on the roster--with Johnson's departure it seems like Holmes time to get a bigger role. Holmes has been a little inconsistent, but that's probably more a product of lack of consistent or defined role than anything else. He's shown flashes over the last 2 seasons during periods where he's gotten more playing time.

Since January 15th, over his last 26 games(over 50% of his season)...Holmes per 36 numbers are 15/10/3.5/2.5 blk + stls on 60% FG/67% FT. Those numbers are roughly his season too. Last season he put up 17/9.5/2.0/3.0 blk + stls on 56 FG%/70% FT.

Holmes is a little bit undersized at 6'9/7'2/245, but he's long and athletic and shouldn't have a problem in the modern NBA especially against opposing teams 2nd units. He's mobile, athletic, and has a good motor. Offensively, these skills allow him to run the floor well in transition, set screens, and roll to the rim. His playstyle is in that Clint Capela mold that is so coveted these days. He hasn't quite proven to be the defender that his athletic profile suggests he could be, but Holmes is entirely capable of playing 20-25 mpg as part of the Sixers forward rotation, backing up Joel Embiid and giving the Sixers a more traditional PF option instead of Saric/Illysolva or other floor spacing big. Most importantly, Holmes is young (24) and cheap allowing the Sixers to focus there cap space elsewhere.

Offensively, Holmes will work really well with Fultz giving Fultz an easy lob option rolling to the rim and opening up lanes for Fultz drives. Holmes averages 3 ORB and 3.5 assists per game showing that he's active on the glass and creating secondary chance points and is a good passing for a big who keeps the ball moving and finds open teammates.

That's the beginning of a effective, cheap, and controllable 2nd unit which is extremely important for a team like the Sixers that will soon be pushed up against the cap. It seems like Holmes is a guy that they should be able to sign to another contract in the next couple of years for solid value too.

The Rest

The Sixers have a bunch of young wings they are trying to develop that are largely unknowns--Justin Anderson (24), Furkan Korkmaz (20), Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarott (22).

None of these guys will likely be anything more than role players off the bench, but cheap controllable options with development potential are the kind of guys you want filling out your 10/11-15th spots of your roster.

Justin Anderson

Justin Anderson at 24 isn't a great shooter or defender, but he can play capable minutes and the Sixers benefit from having a cheap depth wing option.

Furkan Korkmaz

Furkan Korkmaz is 20 years old and extremely young, he's all potential at this point. It's worth continuing to try and develop Korkmaz as, at least in his amatuer career, Korkmaz flashed a lot of potential as a shooter. He's been bad in the NBA and also extremely bad in the G-League as well as a poor shooter at both levels. Korkmaz should spend time next season in the G-League. He could potentially be a Marco Bellennelli type player if he reaches his potential, but it looks like he needs a lot of work to be able to reach that spot. His shooting struggles are surprising as you'd think that should translate, but low minute totals, variance that comes with small sample sizes, adjusting to the NBA and a new country, and other factors are probably responsible.

The Sixers will continue to try and develop him but it's really an unknown of what they have here.

TLC

Luwawu-Cabbarot (TLC) is probably the most projectable guy of these 3 to get excited about, at least in the immediate future. TLC seems to have taken a step forward during the 2nd half of this season. Since Dec. 31, in TLC's last 22 games...he's averaging:

14 mpg - 5.2 pts - 1 rbd - 1 ast - 0.5 blk+stil on 37.5 FG% - 40.5 3 PT% - 94.7 FT% per 36 minutes that's 13.5 pts - 2.5 rbd - 3 ast on roughly 38/41/95 shooting splits (7 3 PT attempts per 36 of his 11 shots)

TLC is 6'7/6'11 and can play either wing position. He's not a big disruptor and doesn't generate a lot of TOs, but his length and above average athleticism allow him to force his man to make tough shots. Offensively he's been inconsistent, but he's continually gotten better at the season has gone along. Over the last half of the season he's been able to hit 40ish% of his 3 pointers, his 95% FT% over that time also is a positive metric indicating his shooting prowess. He's largely a shooter and has struggled epicly inside the arc this season shooting worse than his 3 point percentage. He's never going to be great at scoring inside the perimeter, but he's a little bit better than his numbers of shown this season and capable in transition too. His 7.0 +/- over this time shows how productively he's been playing.

Correcting some variance, if TLC can get to 42-44% FG - 37.5-40% 3 PT - 80+ FT% he could be a floor spacing option with average/above average defense. Over the last half of the season TLC has been that guy, is that improvement for real? Will he regress back to his mean and if so what would that look like?

At 22 years old and with a lot of potential, I wouldn't be surpised to see TLC average 10-11 points off the bench on 42/38/80 splits in 20-25 mpg.

If the Sixers add Bridges, it will be interesting to see what they do with TLC next season as if he continues his 2nd half of this season in terms of play...he could provide Bellenelli's production for cheaper. The Sixers are losing a lot of veterans next season, however their young guys will now have playoff experience. Are the Sixers willing to lose their veterans in McConnell/Redick/Bellenelli/Johnson and give those spots to young guys? Holmes, TLC, and Fultz all seem to be in spots where they should be given a shot to play 20+ minutes a game--there is a risk associated there though.

Fultz - TLC - Holmes + length/floor spacing additions would give the Sixers a solid bench rotation and it wouldn't cost too much. Fultz handling the ball and creating surrounded by shooters and rim runner is a solid formula for productive bench minutes.


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Sixers Defensively Would Be Insane
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The Sixers already have 3 players -- Covington, Embiid, and Simmons -- who some metrics suggest are all top 10 defenders in the NBA. Defensively metrics are flawed, but all 3 are among the best in the game defensively at their respective positions. Adding Bridges would potentially give them a 4th player in that conversation. The Sixers could legitimately have 4 players on All NBA Defense lists.

They would arguably be the biggest and longest starting lineup pretty much ever fielded. Simmons can legit guard opposing PGs and switch all 5 positions on the court. He's also extremely disruptive and generates tons of turnovers and deflections and rebounds like a big. A 7'0 point guard is sa pretty rare thing.

Covington is the same thing. He can guard 1-4 and is a borderline 6'10 230 with a 7'0 wingspan. The Sixers have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season with Covington and Simmons switching and trapping and disrupting ball-handlers and passing lanes with their length and quickness.

Sixers perimeter defenders can be extremely aggressive with Embiid behind them. Embiid is arguably the best rim-protector in the game and mobile enough to hold his own in space too.

Adding Mikal Bridges would allow the Sixers to have plus plus size, length, and athleticism. At 6'7 with a 7'2 wingspan, Bridges is one of the best perimeter defensive prospects to come out of college I have ever seen. HIs production defensively, disruption metrics, and verstatility is insane.

Saric is actually 25th in the NBA too in Defensive RTG, while I'm not quite ready to say he's an elite defender or even a good one...Saric has shown that when surrounded by good defensive players he can play well defensively in a system.

The Sixers would be able to switch everything between Simmons/Bridges/Covington and be extremely aggressive with Embiid behind them.

I honestly think that the Sixers with Bridges would have the potential to be one of the best defensive teams of all time.
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Conclusion-- Drafting Bridges is the key to unlocking the maximum potential of a roster with a lot of intriguing pieces
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I'm a die hard Timberwolves fan, but if the Sixers draft Bridges...I'll have to consider switching allegiances or at least having a second favorite team because you guys would be one of the most interesting and intriguing two way teams I've seen in my recent memory.
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The Sixers 2018-19 Rotation
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Guard:
Simmons/Fultz/*Korkmaz

Wings

Bridges*/Fultz/TLC/Anderson/*Korkmaz
Covington/TLC/Anderson

Bigs

Saric/Covington/Holmes
Embiid/Holmes
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Those are the 10* guys the Sixers will likely have on roster guarenteed after Bridges. They'll need to find 1 or 2 rotation players. They likely will look to add another floor spacing wing as well as a floor spacing big. The Sixers also need a big to back up Embiid and Holmes. Embiid's injury history suggests that while this player might not get consistent rotation minutes, the Sixers should look to grab a capable big for cheap. Looking for a veteran to sign the minimum and ring chase could be a good option here for example. They also could benefit from finding a cheaper alternative to Jared Bayless's 8.5m at the 3rd PG spot.
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Needs
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Primary Needs:

-Floor Spacing 2/3
-Floor Spacing 4/3

Secondary Needs:

-3rd string PG + C

Tertiary Needs:

-4th PG and/or 4th Big
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Sixers Situation
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The Sixers will have about $65m in salary under contract with a salary cap just under 110 million. They will need to look to resign Holmes + McConnel plus begin to think about Saric/Simmon's contract extensions, or at least be aware of how to make current moves fit with that future. Saric and Simmons will cost the Sixers close to $50m combined per year. After resigning Holmes/McConnel, the Sixers will likely have roughly $73-75m in salary and have to fill their needs.

Finding young players and/or veteran minimum options for the end of their bench (4th Big + PG, 3rd string C) should probably only cost the Sixers $6-10m. This means that the Sixers will likely have about $80-85m in salary and 25-30m in cap space to fill their two primary needs.
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Potential FA
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Personally, I would consider trying to sign Saric long term now. I think he'll only continue to get better and locking him up a year early might mean you can save some money. I would at least explore that option. Depending on your thoughts there I would look at players like JJ Redick, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, Tyreke Evans, Will Barton, Danny Green*, Wesley Matthews, Marco Bellenelli, Mario Hezonja, Caldwell-Pope, etc. who could fill that wing need at different price levels.

Nikola Mirotic*, Derrick Favors, Irvan Illysolva, Luc Richard Mbah Moute, Channing Frye, David West are PF's that could be interesting to take a look at as well...the wing class is much much deeper than the PF class.

*Not UFA

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After Laying Out and Analyzing the Sixers Roster -- What would you Sixer fans like to do moving forward?
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[Cheatergriffin]

My attention span isnt disciplined enough to read all that

[cksdayoff]

OP took the time and effort to write all that so i'mma give him a +1. i do agree mikal would be ideal for the sixers

[76ciology]

[76thBearCub]

That is like 3 million metric tons worth of thought that will be re routed to a new and interesting (Im sure) thread.

[TheZachAttack]

My attention span isnt disciplined enough to read all that

I cut it way down because a lot of it was talking about all of the types of offense the Sixers could run with their personnel and Bridges, but it wasn't really needed.
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To summarize the article it basically reads like this:
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-Mikal Bridges is really really good on both sides of the ball and a perfect fit on the Sixers
-Breaking down Bridges game and his fit on the Sixers

-With Bridges what does the Sixers roster look like? What else do they need long-term going forward after this season? How should they think about the talent they have on their roster?

-My thoughts on the Sixers roster with a lot of talk about Fultz/TLC/Holmes as well as the importance of Covington/Saric (and how their playstyles work with Embiid/SImmons)

-Breaking down the 2018 FA class and options for the Sixers

-Asking for your thoughts on what the Sixers should do and on my analysis of Sixers players.
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[ivysixer2000]

Looks like alot of info and alot of reading.

I'll get through all of it......I think. Appreciate the work, especially from a guy whose not a Sixers fan.

[sixers hoops]

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1693139&start=220

Please keep in general draft thread where many people have discussed interest in Bridges.