How are we feeling?

[Negrodamus]

The Embiid thing was a downer for sure and PG getting surprise surgery isn't great, but it's hard to not be excited about the young guys because they exude everything you want from stars: personable, good people (at least publicly facing) who are tireless workers. The difference between the starters and second unit is going to be insane. McCain, VJ, Edwards, Watford, and Bona is a pure fast paced, transition heavy lineup. Maxey, Grimes, Oubre, PG, and Embiid are more possession based (mostly because of PG and Embiid).

As I said in another thread, it's nice to know we have options to keep the offense going when Embiid isn't out there. That's been our issue for a long time. As we wind down on the Embiid era, it'll be interesting to see if we turn Embiid into a 20-25 min C who generates more assists than continuing to jump on his shoulders and banking on him scoring 35ppg.

[SixersSince82]

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.

Sure. But the point was about overall potential and that's anything but frivolous. Teams and the industry in general spend millions of dollars trying to evaluate potential and it's directly related to a question like "How are we feeling?"

[Jailblazers7]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMJOsOeBYKx/?igsh=MXFueXZyMXloaTZzMQ==

Speaking of feeling good - this type of offseason focus for Maxey makes me feel great. Pace & physicality in the midrange + keeping his dribble alive in traffic. Those would be huge builds onto Maxey’s game.

[Negrodamus]

I feel pretty confident in saying that this is my favorite Sixers team we've had in a while. I don't know about the best, but I loved McCain, Bona and Edgecombe pre-draft, I love Maxey as a UK and Sixer fan, Edwards and Grimes showing out on a tanking team gives them a level of endearment, and of course I'll always like Embiid. Ton of intrigue and homegrown talent on this team; so even though there's a lot to be concerned over because of the contract situation mixed with the health of PG and Embiid, it's hard for me not to be all in on next season.

[Stanford]

Teams and the industry in general spend millions of dollars trying to evaluate potential

Draftniks are people trying to sell an entertainment product to the public. These are the people doing player comps because it's an easy way to describe a prospect to a person who knows about the NBA but doesn't watch college or international basketball. It's useless as an evaluation tool but effective as a marketing technique. Draftniks are only useful in the sense that if Kevin O'Connor says something, I'm inclined to believe the opposite is true.

The entities spending millions of dollars doing actual scouting are not releasing their player evaluations to the public. Even if they did, we'd see a huge range of opinions on things like upside. If you're not excited about VJ because you don't think he has a high upside, that's totally fine and reasonable. You can't just change what you believe. But if you're not excited about VJ because Romp O'Givony said he has Derrick White upside, that's pretty silly.

[SixersSince82]

Teams and the industry in general spend millions of dollars trying to evaluate potential

Draftniks are people trying to sell an entertainment product to the public. These are the people doing player comps because it's an easy way to describe a prospect to a person who knows about the NBA but doesn't watch college or international basketball. It's useless as an evaluation tool but effective as a marketing technique. Draftniks are only useful in the sense that if Kevin O'Connor says something, I'm inclined to believe the opposite is true.

The entities spending millions of dollars doing actual scouting are not releasing their player evaluations to the public. Even if they did, we'd see a huge range of opinions on things like upside. If you're not excited about VJ because you don't think he has a high upside, that's totally fine and reasonable. You can't just change what you believe. But if you're not excited about VJ because Romp O'Givony said he has Derrick White upside, that's pretty silly.

I think you are willfully missing my point by nitpicking semantics, dude. As a moderator I think you should be better than that. But I went back and changed it from draftniks to "general publically available consensus". Hope that helps you.

I like VJ. Glad we drafted him but, as I explained in the earlier post, the level of excitement I have for a prospect like VJ is more tempered than one I'd have for say Flagg who is closer to a sure fire prospect... and you can take it even further like the level of excitement you'd have for Wemby or Lebron verus Flagg. Seems pretty reasonable and I thought pretty easy to understand from my earlier post.

[Stanford]

I see!

[Backcountry]

Sorry to barge in on your board, but I had this weird dream last night and this is the only place I could really think to post it.

My family and I were on vacation somewhere, and we happened upon the Sixers at some sort of summer camp. Embiid was fit like some younger version of LeBron. There was another player who was also a taller star, but I can't remember who it was. But the strangest thing was that Jokic was on the team! The team looked great and the overall vibe I had was they were going to be a powerhouse.

So, I'm not an oracle or anything as far as I know, but thought I'd share this. I've always had a soft spot for the Sixers since I first started following the NBA because of Dr. J way back in the late 70s, long before the Raptors were even a gleam in David Stern's eye. Good luck this season. Maybe this is the year? VJ seems like a good-luck charm.

[76ciology]

The way I see the league today, the NBA has worked to flatten the odds and create more unpredictability. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a team win back to back titles. The East feels wide open, while the West has several teams that look like powerhouses, like the Rockets and Clippers, alongside the usual contenders.

We all watch this team for different reasons, but for me, the excitement comes from having a roster that can stay competitive, or at least entertaining, even when Joel isn’t on the floor. If Joel and George come back healthy and play well, that’s just a bonus.

At the end of the day, with how flat the odds are, even a fully healthy Joel and George wouldn’t make me feel totally confident. I’ve come to believe winning now has less to do with raw talent and more with intangibles.. chemistry, depth, and playing the right way. And those three things can still exist without Joel and George. That’s why I’m excited.. because this team has the potential to be fun and can be competitive without Embiid.

[M2J]

[Verse 2]
I know a secret
You have fear
Now you only think about going back
You don't talk about boot and rings no more
Everything you should've been
With no fear

Watch on YouTube

[LeonJordanJr24]

Ready to move PG for a young forward to build with... The only old expensive contract i would keep is embiid. Want Drummond ,lowry and Gordon out of here .

[76ciology]

I think this is the season where Embiid will fly under the radar, he’s being ranked more like Vucevic with 1 block per game player than an ex-MVP. Most of the fanbase seems more excited to watch McCain and Edgecombe, and if Sixers fans are losing interest, you can imagine how little non-Sixers fans, who already dislike his style, will care.

And thats good for him.. there’s no pressure and he can just take his time and do the right thing until he’s healthy.

[LeonJordanJr24]

I think this is the season where Embiid will fly under the radar, he’s being ranked more like Vucevic with 1 block per game player than an ex-MVP. Most of the fanbase seems more excited to watch McCain and Edgecombe, and if Sixers fans are losing interest, you can imagine how little non-Sixers fans, who already dislike his style, will care.

And thats good for him.. there’s no pressure and he can just take his time and do the right thing until he’s healthy.

Objectifying a injury battling Embiid is way off base. When he plays and is healthy he looks great and we look great. Don't diss Embiid's talent and impact when hes often not healthy.

[Peak Brunson]

I think this is the season where Embiid will fly under the radar, he’s being ranked more like Vucevic with 1 block per game player than an ex-MVP. Most of the fanbase seems more excited to watch McCain and Edgecombe, and if Sixers fans are losing interest, you can imagine how little non-Sixers fans, who already dislike his style, will care.

And thats good for him.. there’s no pressure and he can just take his time and do the right thing until he’s healthy.

Objectifying a injury battling Embiid is way off base. When he plays and is healthy he looks great and we look great. Don't diss Embiid's talent and impact when hes often not healthy.

In regular season yeah.

[thomas1897]

The 76ers 2025-2026 season is a turning point in how this team will be like in the future. That is considering Joel Embiid health now and the future. The 76ers management has taken precautionary steps to address. The Embiid factor: mood-attitude and his health how many games is he available to play? His contract when it ends what actions will the management take? Looking at the roster they have an abundance of young talent. How will the 76ers management proceed with these young players and winning with or without Embiid. Questions to be answered who, how and when who will be a part of the young core, how they will be used, when will the development process will be completed. The paradox is how Nick Nurse's staff develops these players or being more creative with draft picks, free agency and trades. The unknown factor is who will replace Joel Embiid?

[LeonJordanJr24]

I'm all for moving PG, Drummond and Eg for a Kuminja or Giddey type player to build with instead of keeping this old injury prone players.

[Negrodamus]

I'm so irrationally high on McCain that I think we're going to have some serious discussions about building the team around him at the end of next season.

I think VJ has a higher ceiling than him, but will require a decent amount of development to hit that ceiling (not down on VJ at all, but I need to see that handle and shot hit star levels). McCain already has the shot and handles along with crafty finishing. My only trepidations with McCain is the lost time of development due to injury.

If he's off the bench, like I think he will be, and getting 25+ mpg, I'm predicting 15ppg and 6MOY votes if he stays healthy.

[Stanford]

I'm so irrationally high on McCain that I think we're going to have some serious discussions about building the team around him at the end of next season.

Totally agree. I see people talking about him as a future sixth man and I don't get it. Have never been this sure about a Sixer.

[the_process]

So if we're this high on McCain... it's time to start talking about Maxey then?

[Negrodamus]

So if we're this high on McCain... it's time to start talking about Maxey then?

He’s gotta prove it first. Steph played with Monta for the first 3 years of his career (not saying McCain is Steph or Maxey is Monta).