76ers 2023-24 Season Thread Part 2

[mjkvol]

It might be hard for fans to accept this point of view, but I promise in say about 4-5 months most people will agree with it. The best thing for the Sixers is for them to miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick. It’s not everyday that a team as good as the Sixers gets the pick in the lottery. It would give the Sixers an opportunity to get a potentially really good young player on a rookie deal in addition to all the cap room they’ll have. And they could even trade the pick if they’re so inclined, as it would be much more valuable.

But this team has few young stud players, it’s really just Maxey. Adding another who could contribute every night for cheap would be huge.

It’s what Im rooting for at this point. Let’s be real, this season is already over. Once Embiid went down that was a wrap, might as well get a lotto pick out of it. Nd I think they have a legit chance given how bad they are without him.

I'm not so sure that scenario is hard to accept at this point by realistic fans. Staggering into a play-in slot with this group, or one close to it after the deadline, serves no purpose other than potentially getting ownership a home playoff game or two, and I have trouble seeing that as great incentive, given the current situation. Looking at 2024 and beyond is the only way to maintain any real interest right now.

[mithrandir17]

Read on Twitter

Four weeks is a pretty good sign, right?

[SixthStreet]

I might get roasted for this take, but Embiid being out also will show that Maxey is not a second best player on a title team yet. And he may not get there until Embiid is post-prime.

I think Morey really needs to be careful about making a run this year and trading assets away. It’s important to trade away everything of value in this strong sellers market and tank our way out of the playoffs.

[PhillyFan11]

I might get roasted for this take, but Embiid being out also will show that Maxey is not a second best player on a title team yet. And he may not get there until Embiid is post-prime.

I think Morey really needs to be careful about making a run this year and trading assets away. It’s important to trade away everything of value in this strong sellers market and tank our way out of the playoffs.

He’s playing with 3 mediocre bench players + Tobi…you aren’t getting a true evaluation of any player in those conditions.

[the_process]

It's a massive sellers market, and the Sixers should be trying to take advantage.

[Jailblazers7]

Tanking out of the playoffs is a bad idea imo. These are extremely valuable reps for Maxey to try to lead the team with Embiid out & getting him at least one playoff series as the lead ball handler is key to his development.

The team isn’t optimally built for Maxey so I’m not reading too harshly into these early returns. We don’t have a lob threat for him in the PnR or an elite rim protector to back him up on defense. There are no other creators on the roster to take attention away from him & allow him to play off ball.

Despite those limitations, we’re less than a week away from Tyrese dropping 50 to deliver a road win in Utah where the Jazz are 16-7 this year.

We should still be sellers & look for opportunistic deals but bailing on this season is losing out on a crucial development year for Tyrese.

[zaz102]

Read on Twitter

Four weeks is a pretty good sign, right?

I don't read much into it. Re-evaluate means nothing to me. It's the result of the re-evaluation. They could say he's close, far away, or most likely, they're not sure and will re-evaluate after another few weeks.

[FireMorey]

Tanking out of the playoffs is a bad idea imo. These are extremely valuable reps for Maxey to try to lead the team with Embiid out & getting him at least one playoff series as the lead ball handler is key to his development.

The team isn’t optimally built for Maxey so I’m not reading too harshly into these early returns. We don’t have a lob threat for him in the PnR or an elite rim protector to back him up on defense. There are no other creators on the roster to take attention away from him & allow him to play off ball.

Despite those limitations, we’re less than a week away from Tyrese dropping 50 to deliver a road win in Utah where the Jazz are 16-7 this year.

We should still be sellers & look for opportunistic deals but bailing on this season is losing out on a crucial development year for Tyrese.

They don't have to tank. Just want them to lose enough games so they miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick. Maxey can play as much as he wants.

[Jailblazers7]

They don't have to tank. Just want them to lose enough games so they miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick. Maxey can play as much as he wants.

I want Maxey getting reps as the lead ball handler against playoff defenses, it’s important for his development. We saw what the Heat did to him on Christmas Day by throwing lots of coverages at him. He’s needs the experience of learning to adjust & solve problems on the fly.

There are good prospects we can get in the early 20s. This is actually a deep center draft, I’d consider using our pick to find a long-term Embiid backup that pairs well with Maxey unless there’s a wing/big guard prospect we like.

[FireMorey]

They don't have to tank. Just want them to lose enough games so they miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick. Maxey can play as much as he wants.

I want Maxey getting reps as the lead ball handler against playoff defenses, it’s important for his development. We saw what the Heat did to him on Christmas Day by throwing lots of coverages at him. He’s needs the experience of learning to adjust & solve problems on the fly.

There are good prospects we can get in the early 20s.

I go the other way. I'd rather get a better player or trade asset than give Maxey a little more experience in the playoffs. I think we generally overrate playoff experience. Maxey will play in the regular season against really good teams, I don't see how one playoff series will make that much of a difference in his development. The difference both in players and pick value between say 14 and say 24 is substantial. I think the difference in what that could do for the Sixers' future compared to just getting Maxey a playoff series to play in is huge IMO.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

They don't have to tank. Just want them to lose enough games so they miss the playoffs and get a lottery pick. Maxey can play as much as he wants.

I want Maxey getting reps as the lead ball handler against playoff defenses, it’s important for his development. We saw what the Heat did to him on Christmas Day by throwing lots of coverages at him. He’s needs the experience of learning to adjust & solve problems on the fly.

There are good prospects we can get in the early 20s. This is actually a deep center draft, I’d consider using our pick to find a long-term Embiid backup that pairs well with Maxey unless there’s a wing/big guard prospect we like.

I think the guards are deep in this draft as well. Dalton Knecht (based off of where we are picking) is my top choice right now. He's a seamless fit on this team next to Maxey.

[Ben]

I might get roasted for this take, but Embiid being out also will show that Maxey is not a second best player on a title team yet. And he may not get there until Embiid is post-prime.

I think Morey really needs to be careful about making a run this year and trading assets away. It’s important to trade away everything of value in this strong sellers market and tank our way out of the playoffs.

I love Maxey but I agree with this. He's a very close statistical comparison to Bradley Beal at comparable ages. Obviously every player is different, but how would we be approaching this whole situation if we knew that we had a rising Beal plus an aging and injury-prone fantastic center? With Maxey, we're not talking about Kobe, MJ, Lebron. Beal in his prime would have been an excellent 3rd- best player, or maybe 2nd-best if the other three starters were all excellent defenders who could shoot from 3 and thus take the pressure off of the alphas.

Hypothetically, a deeply invested Harden who wanted to play defense could have been the 2nd-best player, but that wasn't the reality. Is there a realistic scenario now to finding 2 other starters who defend well and shoot the 3 reliably?

[M2J]

Put Jo in the hyperbaric chamber

[the_process]

Read on Twitter

Four weeks is a pretty good sign, right?

I don't read much into it. Re-evaluate means nothing to me. It's the result of the re-evaluation. They could say he's close, far away, or most likely, they're not sure and will re-evaluate after another few weeks.

I'm thinking this is a nice way of saying "we'll see what our record is and what chance we have in the playoffs before officially saying Joel is out for the year."

Unofficially, we should get our answer Thursday.

[PhillyFan11]

I might get roasted for this take, but Embiid being out also will show that Maxey is not a second best player on a title team yet. And he may not get there until Embiid is post-prime.

I think Morey really needs to be careful about making a run this year and trading assets away. It’s important to trade away everything of value in this strong sellers market and tank our way out of the playoffs.

I love Maxey but I agree with this. He's a very close statistical comparison to Bradley Beal at comparable ages. Obviously every player is different, but how would we be approaching this whole situation if we knew that we had a rising Beal plus an aging and injury-prone fantastic center? With Maxey, we're not talking about Kobe, MJ, Lebron. Beal in his prime would have been an excellent 3rd- best player, or maybe 2nd-best if the other three starters were all excellent defenders who could shoot from 3 and thus take the pressure off of the alphas.

Hypothetically, a deeply invested Harden who wanted to play defense could have been the 2nd-best player, but that wasn't the reality. Is there a realistic scenario now to finding 2 other starters who defend well and shoot the 3 reliably?

By this measure aren’t there like 12 humans walking the earth that qualify as a good 2nd option?
I mean if we are saying Maxey isn’t a good enough 2nd option than we will never be satisfied with anything

[Jailblazers7]

I go the other way. I'd rather get a better player or trade asset than give Maxey a little more experience in the playoffs. I think we generally overrate playoff experience. Maxey will play in the regular season against really good teams, I don't see how one playoff series will make that much of a difference in his development. The difference both in players and pick value between say 14 and say 24 is substantial. I think the difference in what that could do for the Sixers' future compared to just getting Maxey a playoff series to play in is huge IMO.

I think we often overrated the value of a late lotto pick. Good organizations routinely draft well in the late teens & early 20s. Morey’s draft record since coming to Philly has been pretty damn good. Maybe we get extraordinarily lucky with the ping pong balls but I wouldn’t purposely throw away the opportunity to get playoff reps for Maxey all to move up a couple spots in the draft. We’re likely talking about the difference between picking 14th vs 18th.

I hope Maxey gets to be on the USA Select team as we prep for the Olympics too. That’d be an awesome way for him to spend the summer.

[Murray_17]

I might get roasted for this take, but Embiid being out also will show that Maxey is not a second best player on a title team yet. And he may not get there until Embiid is post-prime.

I think Morey really needs to be careful about making a run this year and trading assets away. It’s important to trade away everything of value in this strong sellers market and tank our way out of the playoffs.

I love Maxey but I agree with this. He's a very close statistical comparison to Bradley Beal at comparable ages. Obviously every player is different, but how would we be approaching this whole situation if we knew that we had a rising Beal plus an aging and injury-prone fantastic center? With Maxey, we're not talking about Kobe, MJ, Lebron. Beal in his prime would have been an excellent 3rd- best player, or maybe 2nd-best if the other three starters were all excellent defenders who could shoot from 3 and thus take the pressure off of the alphas.

Hypothetically, a deeply invested Harden who wanted to play defense could have been the 2nd-best player, but that wasn't the reality. Is there a realistic scenario now to finding 2 other starters who defend well and shoot the 3 reliably?

With Steph Curry

Or if you want, let's do Paul George

here

Players develop in different ways, for example, Beal is today a mediocre 3 point shooter and at 23 he was a volume guy shooter, something he went away from as time went on.

I just don't understand why this forum is obsessed with capping Maxey at 23 or even before that. We have seasons to see if Maxey becomes Beal or if he can become Lillard, but i would like to see where he actually goes before just throwing that potential away because we wanted to already capitalize on a guy that is years away from his prime

[M2J]

You guys are a fan base that stays in process mode. I even sense a level of relief

[Negrodamus]

You guys are a fan base that stays in process mode. I even sense a level of relief

I think if the team looked well balanced and a top contender, we’d be beside ourselves right now. Instead we’re hoping this is a moment the FO takes a long view of the team in order to make a more perfect team.

[Mik317]

I go the other way. I'd rather get a better player or trade asset than give Maxey a little more experience in the playoffs. I think we generally overrate playoff experience. Maxey will play in the regular season against really good teams, I don't see how one playoff series will make that much of a difference in his development. The difference both in players and pick value between say 14 and say 24 is substantial. I think the difference in what that could do for the Sixers' future compared to just getting Maxey a playoff series to play in is huge IMO.

I think we often overrated the value of a late lotto pick. Good organizations routinely draft well in the late teens & early 20s. Morey’s draft record since coming to Philly has been pretty damn good. Maybe we get extraordinarily lucky with the ping pong balls but I wouldn’t purposely throw away the opportunity to get playoff reps for Maxey all to move up a couple spots in the draft. We’re likely talking about the difference between picking 14th vs 18th.

I hope Maxey gets to be on the USA Select team as we prep for the Olympics too. That’d be an awesome way for him to spend the summer.

Is it tho? TECHNICALLY Maxey was drafted before Morey got here, no? I love BBall Paul but yeah...thats about it. Morey is a big game hunter...he doesn't give a **** about drafts; didn't in Houston.