How are we feeling?

[sodmoraes]

[SixersSince82]

Leaning pessimistic long term.

Short term, we're clearly past the point of contending with Joel as the best player but also we can't trade him (or George) for value.
Medium term, Maxey is a fringe all-star not a perennial superstar capable of being the best player on a contender.
Long term, McCain and VJ are intriguing prospects but aren't considered generational talents that make a bright future seem inevitable.

It feels like we're going to be on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the next 4 years while we wait for the Joel/George contracts to expire and sort out what we may or may not have with all these young guards. It's not really enough to have a bunch of good players, you have to have at least 1 great player to really be relevant.

[Stanford]

Quite pessimistic, despite being optimistic about several of the players (McCain in particular). I just don't think the organization as a whole has what it takes to be a serious contender, especially when Embiid isn't available to drag the team to a 60+ win percentage when he plays.

[Jailblazers7]

My prediction for the year is that we have a lot of comeback wins. We’ve got a bunch of high effort athletes who will play to the final buzzer & that will allow us to play back into a lot of games. It’ll be a nice change of pace from blowing leads like we have the past 5+ years.

[Zumramania]

Optimistic for this season and also long term. Maxey, McCain and Grimes are all good players. PG is still not a corpse hopefully.
The only thing I am really worried about is Nurse. I am not sure he is a good coach for this team. I can see him fielding lineups with Lowry, Gordon and Drummond and bleeding points and losing 10-15 games in the regular season like that.

[HotelVitale]

Leaning pessimistic long term.

Short term, we're clearly past the point of contending with Joel as the best player but also we can't trade him (or George) for value.
Medium term, Maxey is a fringe all-star not a perennial superstar capable of being the best player on a contender.
Long term, McCain and VJ are intriguing prospects but aren't considered generational talents that make a bright future seem inevitable.

It feels like we're going to be on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the next 4 years while we wait for the Joel/George contracts to expire and sort out what we may or may not have with all these young guards. It's not really enough to have a bunch of good players, you have to have at least 1 great player to really be relevant.

Think we all have the same basic facts, but also think you've talked your way into the worst outcome being the only one.

If both PG/Embiid can't play (worst case health) then we're entering a rebuild with an unusually nice core already waiting for us--teams that have to restart when their old superstars finally give up the ghost don't usually have a sub-25 core like McCain, VJ, and Maxey to get going with. It sucks we owe some picks for sure but we'll still have our chances at a younger stud.

If PG and/or Embiid are kinda healthy but it's not looking great for competing then one or both can be moved, which means we're rebuilding with a young core and more cap flexibility. Could get sloppy but could not.

If PG and/or Embiid are pretty healthy and we're a solid team, then we probably keep tinkering to try to get over top. It'll probably be more of the same heartbreak but we'll be going for it with a plausibly good team in a crap EC. Plus PG and Embiid would be tradeable.

Feels like you're stuck on two options of 'definitely being an amazing contender' or else 'be the most dismal of mediocre nothings.' Probably neither happens, just hoping it'll be interesting along the way and a lot of the fun's gonna be in following the young guys.

[Iscull]

I'm in the wait and see camp. I think it will depend on health (obviously) as well as how the team meshes.

1) Maxey, McCain, Grimes, and Edgecombe bascially have played zero minutes together.

2) When PG is healthy, he plays well with everyone so long as he doesn't have to be the true PF (Rebounding, Defending). If Broome, Watford, or Walker can fill that role we should be better off.

3) Bona's ability to play significant minutes at center, likely starting in 50% of our games.

Setting above aside, are we in "that bad" of a situation? If we compared ourselves to the Pacers:

1) Is Maxey's ceiling that much lower than Haliburton? Up until last year, most probably thought TH wasn't good enough to lead a finals team. As of today, most people probably have that thought about Maxey. I think they are very comparible, so long as there are quality surrounding pieces.

2) Could McCain/Grimes/Edgecombe provide a similar level of output as Nembhard, Nesmith, and McConnel? Aside from Nembhard being an assasin on defense, offensively I think it's realistic. Edgecombe may have potential to provide a similar defensive skillset as he gets stronger and gains experiance over time.

3) Embiid / PG - Can they provide a similar output as Siakam and Turner? IF healthy - it's a no brainer. Problem is they're only getting older and it's becoming increasingly likely that they won't be key contributors again.

4) Oubre / Watford / Edwards / Bona - can they become important contributors off the bench, who start 1/3-1/2 of games? Given PG and Embiid's health, it's important to have guys who can step up. This would be the Matherin / Toppin / Sheppard / Bradley / Bryant.

[Tony Franciosa]

Wait and see, leaning pessimistic only because most of our cap is caught up in two dudes who we can't count on to be what they were. Longer-term, I like the move to youth/athletic.

[SixersSince82]

Leaning pessimistic long term.

Short term, we're clearly past the point of contending with Joel as the best player but also we can't trade him (or George) for value.
Medium term, Maxey is a fringe all-star not a perennial superstar capable of being the best player on a contender.
Long term, McCain and VJ are intriguing prospects but aren't considered generational talents that make a bright future seem inevitable.

It feels like we're going to be on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the next 4 years while we wait for the Joel/George contracts to expire and sort out what we may or may not have with all these young guards. It's not really enough to have a bunch of good players, you have to have at least 1 great player to really be relevant.

Think we all have the same basic facts, but also think you've talked your way into the worst outcome being the only one.

If both PG/Embiid can't play (worst case health) then we're entering a rebuild with an unusually nice core already waiting for us--teams that have to restart when their old superstars finally give up the ghost don't usually have a sub-25 core like McCain, VJ, and Maxey to get going with. It sucks we owe some picks for sure but we'll still have our chances at a younger stud.

If PG and/or Embiid are kinda healthy but it's not looking great for competing then one or both can be moved, which means we're rebuilding with a young core and more cap flexibility. Could get sloppy but could not.

If PG and/or Embiid are pretty healthy and we're a solid team, then we probably keep tinkering to try to get over top. It'll probably be more of the same heartbreak but we'll be going for it with a plausibly good team in a crap EC. Plus PG and Embiid would be tradeable.

Feels like you're stuck on two options of 'definitely being an amazing contender' or else 'be the most dismal of mediocre nothings.' Probably neither happens, just hoping it'll be interesting along the way and a lot of the fun's gonna be in following the young guys.

The NBA is weird. The "worst case" scenario is being in the middle, which is exactly where I think the 6ers will be the next several years. Mediocre, 10th to maybe 5th... Basically a pointless playoff team. Not good enough to really compete for titles, not bad enough to draft a generational talent.

From your thoughts it feels like somewhere in the middle is where you see them too, you just don't consider that worst case?

[mjkvol]

Leaning pessimistic long term.

Short term, we're clearly past the point of contending with Joel as the best player but also we can't trade him (or George) for value.
Medium term, Maxey is a fringe all-star not a perennial superstar capable of being the best player on a contender.
Long term, McCain and VJ are intriguing prospects but aren't considered generational talents that make a bright future seem inevitable.

It feels like we're going to be on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the next 4 years while we wait for the Joel/George contracts to expire and sort out what we may or may not have with all these young guards. It's not really enough to have a bunch of good players, you have to have at least 1 great player to really be relevant.

Think we all have the same basic facts, but also think you've talked your way into the worst outcome being the only one.

If both PG/Embiid can't play (worst case health) then we're entering a rebuild with an unusually nice core already waiting for us--teams that have to restart when their old superstars finally give up the ghost don't usually have a sub-25 core like McCain, VJ, and Maxey to get going with. It sucks we owe some picks for sure but we'll still have our chances at a younger stud.

If PG and/or Embiid are kinda healthy but it's not looking great for competing then one or both can be moved, which means we're rebuilding with a young core and more cap flexibility. Could get sloppy but could not.

If PG and/or Embiid are pretty healthy and we're a solid team, then we probably keep tinkering to try to get over top. It'll probably be more of the same heartbreak but we'll be going for it with a plausibly good team in a crap EC. Plus PG and Embiid would be tradeable.

Feels like you're stuck on two options of 'definitely being an amazing contender' or else 'be the most dismal of mediocre nothings.' Probably neither happens, just hoping it'll be interesting along the way and a lot of the fun's gonna be in following the young guys.

The NBA is weird. The "worst case" scenario is being in the middle, which is exactly where I think the 6ers will be the next several years. Mediocre, 10th to maybe 5th... Basically a pointless playoff team. Not good enough to really compete for titles, not bad enough to draft a generational talent.

From your thoughts it feels like somewhere in the middle is where you see them too, you just don't consider that worst case?

Totally agree that mediocrity is the worst case scenario. I either want to be seriously competitive or begin Process II - living in a Bulls/Raptors/Hawks type situation where you're hoping for playoff scraps every year is a slow death. Been there and done that.

[Stanford]

bad

[mjkvol]

Pretty lousy now that trading George is highly unlikely to happen anytime soon, if at all. Looks like we're stuck with the double albatross for the duration. You really can't make this schiit up.

[HotelVitale]

Leaning pessimistic long term.

Short term, we're clearly past the point of contending with Joel as the best player but also we can't trade him (or George) for value.
Medium term, Maxey is a fringe all-star not a perennial superstar capable of being the best player on a contender.
Long term, McCain and VJ are intriguing prospects but aren't considered generational talents that make a bright future seem inevitable.

It feels like we're going to be on the hamster wheel of mediocrity for the next 4 years while we wait for the Joel/George contracts to expire and sort out what we may or may not have with all these young guards. It's not really enough to have a bunch of good players, you have to have at least 1 great player to really be relevant.

Think we all have the same basic facts, but also think you've talked your way into the worst outcome being the only one.

If both PG/Embiid can't play (worst case health) then we're entering a rebuild with an unusually nice core already waiting for us--teams that have to restart when their old superstars finally give up the ghost don't usually have a sub-25 core like McCain, VJ, and Maxey to get going with. It sucks we owe some picks for sure but we'll still have our chances at a younger stud.

If PG and/or Embiid are kinda healthy but it's not looking great for competing then one or both can be moved, which means we're rebuilding with a young core and more cap flexibility. Could get sloppy but could not.

If PG and/or Embiid are pretty healthy and we're a solid team, then we probably keep tinkering to try to get over top. It'll probably be more of the same heartbreak but we'll be going for it with a plausibly good team in a crap EC. Plus PG and Embiid would be tradeable.

Feels like you're stuck on two options of 'definitely being an amazing contender' or else 'be the most dismal of mediocre nothings.' Probably neither happens, just hoping it'll be interesting along the way and a lot of the fun's gonna be in following the young guys.

The NBA is weird. The "worst case" scenario is being in the middle, which is exactly where I think the 6ers will be the next several years. Mediocre, 10th to maybe 5th... Basically a pointless playoff team. Not good enough to really compete for titles, not bad enough to draft a generational talent.

From your thoughts it feels like somewhere in the middle is where you see them too, you just don't consider that worst case?

Yeah I think you're skipping a lot of steps to get to that, that's what I was saying. Next year, that might well be the case if Embiid and PG are medium healthy and look pretty blah. But if they're healthy healthy then we're EC contenders, and even if they both miss half a season but are healthy for the PO it'll be more exciting and worth following than 'pointless PO team.'

If like one is pretty healthy and one is looking shot, then we'll be looking to trade and reset I'd imagine. That could result in another half-way season if things work out poorly, but that might not happen and it also might easily be the last of those.

Plus the young guys might really pop and give us other reasons for optimism. There are lots of possible outcomes that aren't us being 5th-10th seeds, I honestly think that us being that for the next 4 years is pretty unlikely.

Also gotta keep in mind that finishing in the basement really isn't anywhere close to as useful as it used to be in the Process days. The all-out tank is much less of a ticket to a top pick than it was.

[Eyeamok]

I truly want Joel to come back and play at a high level, maybe not MVP level, but a high level. Justin Edwards picks up where he left off last season and does a good job filling in for PG. And the 4 guard rotation works well. BUT in reality nothing every works out the way it is supposed to for this franchise. So do the unthinkable, save Maxey from this madness. Trade him for draft picks and a PF. Build around McCain and VJ, Joel just retire, give his minutes to Bona. Podcast P we tried it just was not in the cards. And call it a day.

[the_process]

I truly want Joel to come back and play at a high level, maybe not MVP level, but a high level. Justin Edwards picks up where he left off last season and does a good job filling in for PG. And the 4 guard rotation works well. BUT in reality nothing every works out the way it is supposed to for this franchise. So do the unthinkable, save Maxey from this madness. Trade him for draft picks and a PF. Build around McCain and VJ, Joel just retire, give his minutes to Bona. Podcast P we tried it just was not in the cards. And call it a day.

This is a solid basis for a plan IMO.

[SixersSince82]

Yeah I think you're skipping a lot of steps to get to that, that's what I was saying. Next year, that might well be the case if Embiid and PG are medium healthy and look pretty blah. But if they're healthy healthy then we're EC contenders, and even if they both miss half a season but are healthy for the PO it'll be more exciting and worth following than 'pointless PO team.'

If like one is pretty healthy and one is looking shot, then we'll be looking to trade and reset I'd imagine. That could result in another half-way season if things work out poorly, but that might not happen and it also might easily be the last of those.

Plus the young guys might really pop and give us other reasons for optimism. There are lots of possible outcomes that aren't us being 5th-10th seeds, I honestly think that us being that for the next 4 years is pretty unlikely.

Also gotta keep in mind that finishing in the basement really isn't anywhere close to as useful as it used to be in the Process days. The all-out tank is much less of a ticket to a top pick than it was.

I don't see it but appreciate your perspective.

if they're healthy healthy then we're EC contenders, and even if they both miss half a season but are healthy for the PO it'll be more exciting and worth following than 'pointless PO team.

The thing is, there's nothing in either players history to suggest this is a likely outcome. Of all the possibilities this is objectively the least likely.

Imo, your other possible outcomes do keep them in the mediocre middle.

If VJ was a star prospect even on Flaggs level Id be much more excited, but he's a tier or two below that. The general publically available consensus semms to see him more like Derrick White than a star and even the Oladipo comp isn't good enough. How relevant were his teams?

I love that we've gone young but from a future "contending" perspective, our young core is a big question mark more than a future winning foundation. Maxey just failed his big test last season, and VJ and McCain have 20 games between them. It's possible 2 of them become the stars we'd need to contend but it's more likely they just become good players, and having "good players" isn't good enough.

Don't get me wrong. I'm excited to watch the guards play and develop and I agree it's better than some teams who have to rebuild from scratch, but I just don't think there's anything you can bank on yet. Like... not a single one of them is a prospect on the level Joel or Ben Simmons were, and ultimately it didn't work out even with guys of that level prospect.

[Stanford]

Player comps are a frivolous little game that we play during draft season to help fans who haven't followed college basketball visualize a prospect before they're selected. The relevance of Oladipo's teams matters as much as the relevance of Seth Curry's teams when discussing McCain.

[Tony Franciosa]

I swear to god the only good luck this team has had in the past 25 years was Matt Geiger using his trade kicker to kill that first Iverson trade. It's been brutal ever since.

[the_process]

I swear to god the only good luck this team has had in the past 25 years was Matt Geiger using his trade kicker to kill that first Iverson trade. It's been brutal ever since.

I'm not sure the Finals appearance in 2001 all by itself makes that statement true.

[M2J]

Turn the injuries off on 2K....