2020-21-22 Sixers Season

[VoteForKalas]

Embiid is under contract for two more years so i think he doesn't control as much as you think he does. Embiid should also focus on learning how not to fall all over the place and keep himself healthy.

I know when his contract is up. Embiid has things to work on, health and conditioning are the big ones, but he is the absolute star on this roster and the 76ers live and die with him.

He has tons of leverage over an extension here and if I was him I'd make it clear now what he expects the team to do whatever is necessary to challenge for the ring.

If he leaves, we are in rebuild mode again.

[zambonir]

But there is no way Joel is going to decline the supermax extension if it's offered, because that option might not be available to him next year, and he'd also be crazy to turn down the years of security. He has no way to know whether his health and performance will make him a max player (which would still require a sign-and-trade for the most $) or lower-$ player like Horford (relatively speaking) or, God forbit, retired (like Yao).

He's got the leverage he has either way, if he chooses to use it. What do you think he'll push for more, getting himself paid (which will also affect the roster around him) or getting himself a new star teammate?

[Squire]

Scott O'Neill leaving the Sixers and selling his small stake in the team as well.

[zambonir]

His small stake in the team that no one knew about until yesterday!

[phillychuck]

Best news of the year...

One less empty suit, In my humble opinion.

[zambonir]

Did he really have anything to do with anything other than the business side? Seems like Harris and Blitzer run the show, while Heller (who's long-gone) and Rubin were the ones who liked to get their fingers in the pie.

But what does it mean for the New Jersey Devils?

[VoteForKalas]

But there is no way Joel is going to decline the supermax extension if it's offered, because that option might not be available to him next year, and he'd also be crazy to turn down the years of security. He has no way to know whether his health and performance will make him a max player (which would still require a sign-and-trade for the most $) or lower-$ player like Horford (relatively speaking) or, God forbit, retired (like Yao).

He's got the leverage he has either way, if he chooses to use it. What do you think he'll push for more, getting himself paid (which will also affect the roster around him) or getting himself a new star teammate?

Agreed, but I'm not talking about the contract. Embiid will get paid here or elsewhere (depending on his health of course). Is it worth it to stay with a declining 76ers team for mega money or go elsewhere for a chance to play for rings and still get great money.

My sense of Embiid is he would take the second door. Money is important, but not the most important for Embiid IMO. Winning is most important and the legacy of a championship would cap off his career.

[VoteForKalas]

Great news. I think he was one of the people who influenced the strategy for how Ben has been handled to help the bottom line, but not the team results. Hopefully, this means that approach is changing and more will be expected of all our players.

[zambonir]

I agree he's not about the money, but he's also going to take the money... and will be unhappy if it's not offered.

By then the big off-season roster moves will have happened, though. So he'll either be happy or he could force his way out and get the extension from his new team.

(Or, less likely, but not impossible, the Sixers could trade him entirely of their own accord.)

[bigegypt0417]

I agree he's not about the money, but he's also going to take the money... and will be unhappy if it's not offered.

By then the big off-season roster moves will have happened, though. So he'll either be happy or he could force his way out and get the extension from his new team.

(Or, less likely, but not impossible, the Sixers could trade him entirely of their own accord.)

Joel Embiid is a great basketball player...but unless he changes the way he plays the game, his star is going to burn out quickly, IMO. I've never seen a player his size who falls and is off balance as much as he is.

I think the sixers are going to have to make a choice about building a team to win around him VERY quickly or trading him very soon. I dont really think Embiid is a guy who wll play at a high level in his 30's...

[phillychuck]

BE, Embiid could be a top 10 player in the league if all he did was take 3's and foul-line jumpers, draw fouls, take open drives, and play his usual great positional defense. You're right, he would have to agree to adopt this style and to stop playing bully ball inside, but that decision would extend his career by years. I doubt that anyone on the Sixers is courageous enough to discuss this with him, though, even Morey. Embiid won't like it, and he'll probably injure himself seriously trying to play his customary all-out physical style.

[bigegypt0417]

BE, Embiid could be a top 10 player in the league if all he did was take 3's and foul-line jumpers, draw fouls, take open drives, and play his usual great positional defense. You're right, he would have to agree to adopt this style and to stop playing bully ball inside, but that decision would extend his career by years. I doubt that anyone on the Sixers is courageous enough to discuss this with him, though, even Morey. Embiid won't like it, and he'll probably injure himself seriously trying to play his customary all-out physical style.

To me...if he played a little more offense with his back to the rim, he would extend his career...i don't think he would need to continue with the bully ball but use his many offensive gifts to finesse his way to more points. It seems to me he injures himself more trying to break down the defender driving to the basket.

[gmwannabe]

After Seeing (but not reading) the Bridges article @ philly.com why did the sixers trade him? i know they received smith in the trade but what was their reasoning? any one remember?
gm

[phillychuck]

They thought Smith and Bridges were comparable, AND they got a valuable future #1 pick in the trade. They thought they were getting value. Brett Brown thought Bridges and Smith were "#1 and #1A" on their board at the time they picked. Given Smith's health issues, they may have been right, but Smith will probably never play to what his potential was when drafted after his illness. And they probably underrated how good Bridges was.

[zambonir]

How Mikal Bridges landed with the Suns and changed the course of the 76ers...

If you subscribe...

If not.. the Suns really wanted Bridges. Sixers were happy to keep him but they also really couldn't turn down the offer, which then helped get them Harris too.

"It’s a night that’s turned into one of these recrimination nights,” one person with knowledge of the trade said. “But actually, no, everyone did a good job.”

While the fallout from the trade was bizarre to watch as it played out, the deal itself was odd too. The 76ers had no intent to trade Bridges when they drafted him, according to multiple league sources.

They entered the day with Bridges and Smith next to each other on their draft board. Bridges, a lithe 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-1 wingspan and a sweet jumper, had just won two NCAA championships at Villanova; he was the favorite of the coaching staff. Smith, an athletic 6-3 guard from Texas Tech, was preferred by the team’s scouts. After their pre-draft discussions, the organization settled on Bridges as the better option of the two on its draft board.

[gmwannabe]

Thanks. i forgot about the future #1. i guess they couldn't turn that down if they saw both players that close on their board. Bridges looking for another championship and smith looking to stay in the league. amazing how things work out.
gm

[zambonir]

The weirdest thing is still that Bridges was the local kid whose mom worked for the team. But Smith was yet another seemingly freakish failure who seemed to have it all going for him at the time.

[phillychuck]

Bridges, a lithe 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-1 wingspan and a sweet jumper, had just won two NCAA championships at Villanova; he was the favorite of the coaching staff. Smith, an athletic 6-3 guard from Texas Tech, was preferred by the team’s scouts.

One hopes they've fired those scouts.

[bigegypt0417]

Matisse Thybulle impressive for Australia in their victory over Team USA...

[xogfog]

Speaking of Thybulle, I read a suggested trade for Lillard which was Simmons, Thybulle, Maxey and picks. I would love to get Lillard, but giving up Maxey and Thybulle would hurt.