Realistically, what can we do at this point?

[rzzzzz]

Another post season with Embiid injured. But that shot to the eye was weird, if not deliberate. Embiid remains a dominant player. So let’s stop all the “trade while he’s still got value” nonsense. We will not get anyone, let alone a package that comes close.

I really wanted the Haliburton deal, but that train left the station. Harden says he wants back and even answered the question about not asking for the maximum with some sense of conciliation. Let him opt in next year and rehab this summer.

Doc’s tenure is done. I would push hard for Jay, but at least get someone who can develop young talent and make adjustments.

We need to blow up the bench. Keep Niang, Shake. Matisse. Definitely see what we got with Reed, Bassey, Springer. Joe? Otherwise, Daryl had best show us something and fast. He and Brand are on notice. Maybe Harris needs to sell.

Maxey needs to be maxed out. Maybe he isn’t first team all nba, but he’s got something that needs to be nurtured.

Harris finally looked great about a week after James was moving the ball around, until the last two games. I got no problem moving him and his onerous contract on if we can get real quality. But I’m not desperate because he negotiated better than Elton.

[Ferry Avenue]

The team still doesn't have a cornerstone of character or player leadership necessary to advance past the second round. Whatever is done needs to address that.

The most telling part of the game last night was when cameras were on Doc Rivers during a time out in the fourth quarter, and he was exhorting the team to pull it together and compete. The fact that wasn't a player exhorting his teammates in that way is the root of this team's problem.

There is woefully insufficient character and leadership among the players. There's enough to play well during the regular season and get to the second round of the playoffs, but there's nowhere near enough to beat the teams faced there and beyond.

When physical talent is roughly equal -- and it is in the second round and beyond -- character and leadership win.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Another post season with Embiid injured. But that shot to the eye was weird, if not deliberate. Embiid remains a dominant player. So let’s stop all the “trade while he’s still got value” nonsense. We will not get anyone, let alone a package that comes close.

I really wanted the Haliburton deal, but that train left the station. Harden says he wants back and even answered the question about not asking for the maximum with some sense of conciliation. Let him opt in next year and rehab this summer.

Doc’s tenure is done. I would push hard for Jay, but at least get someone who can develop young talent and make adjustments.

We need to blow up the bench. Keep Niang, Shake. Matisse. Definitely see what we got with Reed, Bassey, Springer. Joe? Otherwise, Daryl had best show us something and fast. He and Brand are on notice. Maybe Harris needs to sell.

Maxey needs to be maxed out. Maybe he isn’t first team all nba, but he’s got something that needs to be nurtured.

Harris finally looked great about a week after James was moving the ball around, until the last two games. I got no problem moving him and his onerous contract on if we can get real quality. But I’m not desperate because he negotiated better than Elton.

I've said it in every thread so far. Defense and rebounding needs improvement. I'm not a fan of just giving Tobias Harris away either so we'll see with that I guess. You mention the bench/depth. That is the other big issue I have with this team. In regards to Shake Milton, I don't think Doc has given him a fair opportunity to consistently find a rhythm. Shake is a player that thrives off of confidence and Doc has taken that from him too many times. Niang is a keeper in my opinion. He just shouldn't be relied upon as much as he was this season. Matisse is going to have to really improve his three point shooting to be worth anything to us. Right now he's unplayable for more then a few minutes. If he develops a consistent three point shot to pair with his cutting ability he's an instant starter and replacement for Danny Green. Reed, Bassey, Springer, and Joe??? Yeah...It would be a dream come true if ONE of them made a leap the way Maxey did this year. I like all four of them very much with Reed being the most likely to really make an impact next season. Again, with Reed if he can become a consistent threat from outside then he can start next to Embiid and hopefully that fixes our rebounding and defensive issues.

To answer your question, realistically what can we do? In my opinion you have to look for under the radar free agent additions that we can afford. I'm already banging the drum for Stanley Johnson. Taurean Prince is a possibility, maybe Gary Harris. I'm not going to name all of them, but they're out there. I specifically like Stanley Johnson. I saw some really nice moments from him this year when he got an opportunity with the Lakers. If we're staying old then I'd look at DeMarcus Cousins or Lance Stephenson to help us out. In fact, I think we need one of them on this roster. With that being said, adding more old guys isn't really what needs to happen in my opinion. We need to see what we have with some of the home grown talent. Bassey and Springer have to get some looks next year and expectations for Joe and Reed will be a bit higher due to it being year 3 in the league for them. Also, no pun intended here, but where does Tyrese Maxey max out at? Surely this isn't the best we're going to see from him? It's pretty damn good, but can he get better? In short, we can hope and pray from some internal growth, and we can make some low risk free agent signings that could potentially pay off big for us. One of the plans should be to add depth to this roster, so...spend wisely in free agency with what we've got, and we can possibly come away with 2-3 players that fill some needs. Choices with all of this are slim though. Someone else mentioned adding another guard who can handle point guard duties...Okay....A shotmaker too right? We can't afford that guy, but we can add Corey Joseph for the vet min and he can give us some of what we need out of the guard position.

[mjkvol]

Another post season with Embiid injured. But that shot to the eye was weird, if not deliberate. Embiid remains a dominant player. So let’s stop all the “trade while he’s still got value” nonsense. We will not get anyone, let alone a package that comes close.

I really wanted the Haliburton deal, but that train left the station. Harden says he wants back and even answered the question about not asking for the maximum with some sense of conciliation. Let him opt in next year and rehab this summer.

Doc’s tenure is done. I would push hard for Jay, but at least get someone who can develop young talent and make adjustments.

We need to blow up the bench. Keep Niang, Shake. Matisse. Definitely see what we got with Reed, Bassey, Springer. Joe? Otherwise, Daryl had best show us something and fast. He and Brand are on notice. Maybe Harris needs to sell.

Maxey needs to be maxed out. Maybe he isn’t first team all nba, but he’s got something that needs to be nurtured.

Harris finally looked great about a week after James was moving the ball around, until the last two games. I got no problem moving him and his onerous contract on if we can get real quality. But I’m not desperate because he negotiated better than Elton.

Agree on keeping Niang and possibly Shake, but Thybulle must be moved while there is perceived value for a one-way player that is even a bit overrated as a defensive player. I believe the ship has sailed on him developing a reliable 3-pt. stroke, and without that he needs to be moved. We need to bring in role players that can play some defense, rebound, and be useful pieces on offense.

The next 2-3 seasons have to be about putting together a playoff ready team around Embiid, Harden, and Maxey, and doing whatever is necessary to get Embiid and Harden to the playoffs rested and healthy. Max both guys out at 60-65 games and 34 minutes a game. Getting a higher seed should not come at the expense of that and developing the young guys with real game experience, even if there are growing pains.

We have 4-5 kids that we need to see if they can become rotation players, which doubles as reducing the holes that need to be filled. It's pretty clear that won't be happening as long as Glenn is coach, so that might be priority #1.

[Jailblazers7]

Priority 1 is finding the right coach. Last night the offense was watching Embiid take a contested step back which is just embarrassing. We need a coach who will put whatever players we have in positions to succeed and develop young guys. Reed, Bassey, Springer are all guys with the potential to be legit playoff contributors and we need at least 1 of them to hit.

Priority 2 is athleticism & length of the wing. I don’t know if that’s from FA, trading Tobias, trading Matisse, or something else but it needs to happen. If we can’t even slow down Jimmy Butler & guard Tyler Herro then we’re cooked. Not only are our wings slow and mostly helpless on defense, but also nobody can rebound. Can’t go far in the playoffs with that weakness on your roster.

Outside of that, which is in Morey’s control, we need Maxey to take another sizable step forward & Embiid to continue his gradual progress. Harden needs to full buy in to a lifestyle & training change to get back to an All-Star level.

I am actually optimistic about our team next year. We have a fairly clear path forward and the means to figure it out.

[Ferry Avenue]

Priority 1 is finding the right coach. Last night the offense was watching Embiid take a contested step back which is just embarrassing. We need a coach who will put whatever players we have in positions to succeed and develop young guys. Reed, Bassey, Springer are all guys with the potential to be legit playoff contributors and we need at least 1 of them to hit.

Priority 2 is athleticism & length of the wing. I don’t know if that’s from FA, trading Tobias, trading Matisse, or something else but it needs to happen. If we can’t even slow down Jimmy Butler & guard Tyler Herro then we’re cooked. Not only are our wings slow and mostly helpless on defense, but also nobody can rebound. Can’t go far in the playoffs with that weakness on your roster.

Outside of that, which is in Morey’s control, we need Maxey to take another sizable step forward & Embiid to continue his gradual progress. Harden needs to full buy in to a lifestyle & training change to get back to an All-Star level.

I am actually optimistic about our team next year. We have a fairly clear path forward and the means to figure it out.

There is nothing wrong with those sorts of approaches to making the team fit better together and improve physically. The problem with those sorts of approaches is that they don't address what will still be the limiting factor on this team's ability to win a championship -- its character and leadership.

If you make changes to the roster and they get you let's say to the ECF or get you to win the ECF, you still aren't necessarily winning the championship. This team needs more than just roster tinkering to go up against the likes of Milwaukee or Phoenix in a seven-game series and win. A whole lot more "fight" -- i.e., character and leadership -- is needed.

This team wasn't just physical talent away from beating Miami. They were physical talent and character and leadership away.

[sixerswillrule]

Not too much.

- Hope Embiid is healthy and doesn't take a nosedive in the playoffs. Design an offense that can get him better shots, maybe with a new coach. No more isolations from 20 feet. You're not a guard.

- Push Harden to adjust for his current age and role. Being able to hit catch and shoot threes and score in the mid-range are key.

- Hope Maxey takes another step.

- Re-tool the rest of the roster. Use Harris and whoever else needed to get the best 3&D players possible and 6th man scorer.

That's about it. It sucks we're not in a better position thanks to the all of the mistakes from management over the years but this is the best we've got at this point.

[brannigan73]

I dont know how you can make any meaningful edge moves to improve the roster and keep a guy like Thybulle. He was the Sixers worst rotation player in the playoffs by plus minus if you dont count DJ. He has been in the league 3 years and hasnt improved at all on offense. Im not saying he doesnt have value during the regular season but its the playoffs that matter. He is useless in the playoffs. The good team know how to expose him as a total non scorer and he makes everyone elses life horrible. He is like a mini Simmons when he is on the court. Apparently he has value around the league though and thats why they have to at least dangle him out there to see what kind of offers you would get. Harris and Thybulle are where I would start. Also, he doesnt have any value anyway so we are stuck with him but why the Shake Milton love? He ins't a good player. And I like Niang but he cant be playing the minutes he played this year. He is a poor rebounder, not athletic, and a bad defender. Sounds like kind a mini description of our team lol. The bench was a big culprit and your naming the main bench players as keepers. You ever hear the phrase you cant get something for nothing? You seem to be saying realitically we cant do anything lol. I dont agree. We come back with this team and maybe one ok bench playing veteran with one of the exceptions we wont get any further.

[Jailblazers7]

There is nothing wrong with those sorts of approaches to making the team fit better together and improve physically. The problem with those sorts of approaches is that they don't address what will still be the limiting factor on this team's ability to win a championship -- its character and leadership.

If you make changes to the roster and they get you let's say to the ECF or get you to win the ECF, you still aren't necessarily winning the championship. This team needs more than just roster tinkering to go up against the likes of Milwaukee or Phoenix in a seven-game series and win. A whole lot more "fight" -- i.e., character and leadership -- is needed.

This team wasn't just physical talent away from beating Miami. They were physical talent and character and leadership away.

I don’t disagree but there’s only so much a GM can do. You get the right coach & put faith in your best players to rise to the challenges in their path. Guys with top level talent & high character are impossible to acquire, teams just don’t let them go. We can pick apart the Sixers many past mistakes but it’s all about what we do now and moving forward.

Maybe they can solve some of the character issues with vets like a PJ Tucker or somebody. But for the most part, our only viable path that isn’t a rebuild is put a team together that fits around Embiid, Maxey, and Harden. We’ve just gotta put them in the best position to succeed and let the chips fall where they may.

Sometimes people change & evolve to overcome challenges based on past failures. Sometimes they don’t. We’ll see which one happens with Harden/Embiid over the next couple years.

[Mik317]

[Tony Franciosa]

they need a potential 6th Man of the Year type of bench piece. Can't come back with Niang/Matisse/Danny as first option(s) off the bench. easier said than done, but that would make a huge difference I think.

[Ferry Avenue]

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/05/13/joel-embiid-would-like-sixers-to-add-p-j-tucker-types-of-players-to-roster/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0q86eYVhEBQgJ5Kl93zOV0jseNQEerreOoo_Sdf8-HwcHnLSMMAKlKLZE

[ProcessDoctor]

I think we need some meaner people on this team. If I’m looking for a role player, that’s Pat Bev. If I’m looking for a star, that’s Donovan Mitchell. Yes, even if it means parting with Maxey. We can’t keep entering the playoffs with a bunch of nice dudes against teams loaded with guys who want to kill us.

Not that I think this needs mentioning, but a new coach ought to be brought in as well.

[rzzzzz]

I dont know how you can make any meaningful edge moves to improve the roster and keep a guy like Thybulle. He was the Sixers worst rotation player in the playoffs by plus minus if you dont count DJ. He has been in the league 3 years and hasnt improved at all on offense. Im not saying he doesnt have value during the regular season but its the playoffs that matter. He is useless in the playoffs. The good team know how to expose him as a total non scorer and he makes everyone elses life horrible. He is like a mini Simmons when he is on the court.

Definitely not the same after the mess around vaccination for the Toronto series. Not that he ever had a break out game offensively, but somehow it felt like you could keep him out on the court if he could give you double digits scoring. But in these playoffs he couldn’t even give us anything playing zone defense, which was supposedly a specialty of his at Washington. So whatever disruption we thought he could cause other teams on the edge, he surely looked pretty fragile. (I wonder what we’re going to get out of Springer.)

[Jailblazers7]

I know there are mixed feelings about John Collins but I’d take him in a heartbeat if we can get him in a Tobi trade. He’s for sure a tough guy who will show up and fight his ass off in the playoffs.

Then you’ve got guards like Jevon Carter, Gary Payton II, Tyus Jones, etc who are UFA and will absolutely play their asses off at every opportunity. There’s a reason that Embiid loved TJ McConnell and it’s because he was gonna squeeze every once advantage he could get through effort.

There are absolutely options available to get high character role players and even ones that fit the needs of the roster.

[Jailblazers7]

I think we need some meaner people on this team. If I’m looking for a role player, that’s Pat Bev. If I’m looking for a star, that’s Donovan Mitchell. Yes, even if it means parting with Maxey. We can’t keep entering the playoffs with a bunch of nice dudes against teams loaded with guys who want to kill us.

Not that I think this needs mentioning, but a new coach ought to be brought in as well.

Donovan Mitchell may be “mean” but he doesn’t try at all on defense lol. He feels like a classic fake tough guy rather than someone who’s gonna back up his talk.

[brannigan73]

Not too much.

- Hope Embiid is healthy and doesn't take a nosedive in the playoffs. Design an offense that can get him better shots, maybe with a new coach. No more isolations from 20 feet. You're not a guard.

- Push Harden to adjust for his current age and role. Being able to hit catch and shoot threes and score in the mid-range are key.

- Hope Maxey takes another step.

- Re-tool the rest of the roster. Use Harris and whoever else needed to get the best 3&D players possible and 6th man scorer.

That's about it. It sucks we're not in a better position thanks to the all of the mistakes from management over the years but this is the best we've got at this point.

If we could get rid of Harris and Thybulle and bring back a couple of athletic guys that defend, rebound, and can hit threes that would be a big change imo. This team is so unathletic its a huge problem they never address. They get destroyed by guys like Jimmy Butler, Pascal Siakam, John Collins etc. Just naming a few guys in the 6-6 to 6-9 range that have gone to town on them the last couple of post steasons lol. We are likely stuck with Harden for at least one more year that leaves Harris and Thybulle as the pieces to move imo. If you look at the real contenders imo Memphis, Golden State, Milwaukee, and Phoenix they dont have such an inefficient use of salary cap as the Sixers. If Harden opts in thats 80 million! lol between him and Tobias. Just an example Holiday and Middleton, a superior combo, make 60 million! No wonder we have a lottery level roster from 5-10 there is no money left.

[Black Mage]

There is no easy path forward, this is for sure, but that doesn't mean you don't work towards cleaning house:

1. Doc needs to go. No re-tread replacements either unless its Pop or Spo (aka no one so go new).

2. We need an entirely new shooting coach. I've said it once, I will say it again, pay whatever it takes to steal an opponents shooting coach from teams that consistently turn "garbage into gold." It's ridiculous that NO ONE outside of Joel and Maxey have developed shooting skills.

3. Players who should not be returning: Matisse (he became a liability in playoffs, regular season defense is meaningless i.e. Gobert); Shake (throwing together 1-2 good/great games between 20 craptastic games is unacceptable); Korkmaz (Furkan gone); Green (he is a heart/glue guy but needed to go before the injury);

4. Harris: Sixers really need to consider moving him. His value may never be higher after the solid playoffs he posted. I don't know what you can get for him, but I'd start kicking the tires on a Brogdon package that includes Warren (pending medicals) or looking at some other team that just wants to shake things up (Hornets, Wolves, Hawks)

5. Harden: I have no idea right now. The only way you can legit consider an extension is if Morey comes out and admits Harden aggravated the hammy and was playing through it and that Harden will dedicate himself to a diet/life change. Otherwise, hope the Lakers in desperation mode find a sucker for Russ and then lure Harden away as a FA. If not that, then pray Dame or Beal has Philly as 1 and only.

6. Two-3 targets I think must be on the table are Hunter (Atl); Brown (Nets) or Oubre (Char).

Doomsday scenario: If Embiid asks for a trade to rejoin Jimmy - start figuring out what package you want from Miami

[ProcessDoctor]

I think we need some meaner people on this team. If I’m looking for a role player, that’s Pat Bev. If I’m looking for a star, that’s Donovan Mitchell. Yes, even if it means parting with Maxey. We can’t keep entering the playoffs with a bunch of nice dudes against teams loaded with guys who want to kill us.

Not that I think this needs mentioning, but a new coach ought to be brought in as well.

Donovan Mitchell may be “mean” but he doesn’t try at all on defense lol. He feels like a classic fake tough guy rather than someone who’s gonna back up his talk.

Yea his effort has decreased on that end unfortunately. With that being said, he still generates steals and shoots 3s at twice the rate as Maxey. I also believe if I had to pick one of those guys to play lockdown defense for one possession, I pick Donovan every time. Donovan ought to one of two-three tougher players who are brought in.

[Skates]

Embiid - Just keep doing what he is doing and be a little more cautious about leaps into the stands and things like that. It was not how he got hurt (Doc having not sent in the bench by then is on Doc with a 27 point lead), keep improving his passing which seemed the most affected by the mask blocking some peripheral vision.

Harden - Adapt to being point Harden as a hopeful 20 ppg, 12 apg, 6 rpg guy, but getting into much better shape and health as players need to do if they intend to carry on four more years at his age. Also, contract of 4 years at $120 million is worth what he is now. Harden has always been a bright guy and has to look at adding even more craftiness to his game and some mid range go to moves. If he is too expensive in his desires, look for a S&T, but I think he truly wants to be here. Coaches cannot expect Houston Harden, I'm not sure why anyone did. He needs guys moving off the ball, not just standing at the three point line.

Maxey - Simple, improve 1% each day over the summer like he did last year. Kid works his ass off and is incredibly coachable, starting the year at SG and being encouraged to score is waht the coaching staff has to emphasize.

Harris - Toughest call. You can't trade him into nothing and expect to sign a bunch of guys to fill out the roster with what we need. Trade for value, sure, but Tobi has shown himself to be an excellent glue guy at a high level, is more athletic and able to get out on the break, is learning to be a catch and shoot guy and pretty deadly at it, plus a secondary ball handler when needed.

The rest of the roster needs to be built around these three or four guys, deeper, tougher, more athletic, wayyyy more athletic. Reed has a definite future in that world at a 4/5 spot, he is hard nosed, athletic, unique skillset he needs to advance and will eliminate negative plays with experience (refs were ridiculous calling fouls on him after a while). Bassey fits as a backup big, classic rim runner/roller and rim protector.

Thybulle needs new scenery, I love Tisse, but something feels broken. Maybe a new coach brings more out of him or elsewhere. I could see him staying under a new coach and system, but he has trade value coming off two all defensive second team nods and one more year of rookie salary.

Springer - Who knows, if he can translate his game he looks a bit like a poor man's Jrue and could be a tough defensive guard if his offense develops, could also be a trade piece.

Furk - Time for a new place to play, will always love him in some ways, but part of a trade.

Shake - Second toughest next to Harris, he disappeared a lot in the season and playoffs, needs a more defined role and to own that role.

Green and Niang - Both need to be upgraded. These are guys built to be part of a Simmons team, and along with Thybulle are part of the piss poor rebounding by this team. With Danny it is age and injury, with Niang, he is a regular season guy, but was unplayable for the most part in the playoffs. Utah had the same issues with him and dropped him from their playoff lineups. George is a deeper rotation piece than the first guy off the bench he played for us. Keep or trade, he needs a lesser role.

Adding - Size, athleticism and toughness on the wing, another 4/5 guy who can play a more offensive version of what Reed can do. A stone cold scorer off the bench, PJ Tucker type to fill out the starting line up as a role player, another quick PG type so we can stop switching Maxey into that role and just let Tyrese score the ball. Defense needs rebuilt and length and athleticism are paramount along with energy and toughness.

Coaching - Not even going to go there right now.

Overall this team needs to transition away from weak rebounding, non athletic forwards who can shoot and fit with Simmons who did the opposite of those things, build out the bench which was terrible this year, sign a critical vet leader or two that can still play and provides an edge to their games.