In Philadelphia,
two of the 4 “major” sports franchises are in rebuilding mode, the main
difference is only one will admit to being in such a state. The Sixers are flat
out admitting they are rebuilding, all their energies are focused on the future.
The Phillies are in denial, insisting they are trying to win now with the aging
remnants of their 2008 World Series champions.
Both are losing (or expect to lose once the season starts) games at a
rapid pace. The difference? The Sixers have told the fans what they are
attempting, and so far, their actions have been in support of their words. Last season amounted to an extended tryout of
young players, (not a tanking of the season as many in the media have called
it) many of whom had been first round draft picks of other teams (usually draft
picks of good teams that picked well after the lottery picks). These players
had trouble cracking the starting lineup of their playoff contending teams, but
they were first round picks for a reason. The Sixers may have found a few
keepers amidst all the losing, players such a s Tony Wroten, Hollis Thompson,
Henry Sims, and James Anderson, players who may never be stars but still be valuable
role players. Additionally, last year
they had two lottery picks in the draft,
one of whom, Michael Carter-Williams was rookie of the year, and one, who most
likely would have been the number one pick in the draft if he hadn’t been
injured, Nerlens Noel. The Sixers provide Noel an entire season to heal and
develop his game, without the pressure of having to win now.
Al the losing pushed them into the draft lottery again, of
course, once again, with two picks. This time, they again selected the player expected
to go number one but for an injury, Joel Embiid, and once again will likely
give him an entire season to recover. Additionally, they shrewdly selected a
point guard coveted by another team, then traded him for a more talented
forward plus an additional future first round pick. This forward, Dario Saric. like
Embiid, will likely not play for the team this year, preferring to hone his
game in Turkey before joining the NBA.
The Sixers, despite having Noel for this season, will likely
continue losing without help from this year’s draft, landing them in the
lottery once again. Next year, they
should have Carter-Williams, Noel, Embiid, their 2015 fist round pick, and
perhaps holder Thaddeus Young in their lineup, with Saric due from Turkey the
year after that, just as these high picks start to become veteran NBA players,
and hopefully stars. The pain of losing
now is paving eh way to a bright future. Tomorrow, I’ll contrast that with the Phillies
approach
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