Mail-It-In Mailbag: Ranking Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis
Which big guy is the best?
Adam Aaronson, whose legal name is Sixers Adam (@SixersAdam on Twitter), covers the Sixers for The Rights To Ricky Sanchez. He has been legally banned from covering the team in person, and when that ban was set to be lifted, Covid-19 struck. He believes cantaloupe is the best food in existence, and is brought to you by the Official Realtor of The Process, Adam Ksebe.
With the Sixers eliminated, all of us trying to pretend the Eastern Conference Finals aren’t happening and the offseason still a ways away, there’s no better time than now for a Mail It In Mailbag. Here we go!
From Jack: Do you realistically see a way for the Sixers to be able to add pieces around Ben/Joel (assuming they don’t break them up) while keeping Tobias and/or Al?
I think it’s basically impossible to add meaningful pieces without trading at least one of them at this point. Josh Richardson has some value, but only makes $10 million. It’s not as if they really have anything other teams want right now. I’m operating under the assumption that a Tobias trade is basically impossible at this point given the length of his deal. That means the Sixers have to (a) shed Horford’s negative-value salary, and in the process must also (b) add at least one piece who fits. That is going to be very hard, and it is going to cost the Sixers. Whether that is a first-round pick or Matisse Thybulle or a few things in between, the Sixers simply won’t be able to add to Simmons, Embiid and Harris without being willing to pay a significant premium.
From Jackson: What do you think the Sixers should emphasize in their coaching search?
First and foremost, the Sixers will need a creative mind, specifically on the offensive end, who is proactive about addressing issues and identifying potential solutions when it comes to the asymmetry in the styles of Simmons and Embiid, which turn from shaky to untenable when surrounded by the players currently on the team’s current roster. Of course, being able to solve offensive problems is much more difficult than it sounds. But the single most important trait they can find in a new coach is some level of offensive innovation.
After that, they need someone willing to not just stand up to stars, but someone who will continually challenge them to take strides in their games. It’s not all on the coach for a great player to keep working at improving -- at some point fingers will get pointed at the player themself -- but having someone able to hold Simmons and Embiid accountable to be the best players and leaders they can be would do wonders for this team after Brett Brown seemed to be losing control as his tenure ended.
From Anish: Rank AD, Jokic and Embiid (excluding health concerns)
If there’s anything I love, it’s ranking an arbitrary group of elite players based on what qualities I myself prefer, and the inevitable angry discourse that ensues. Here goes:
Davis > Jokic > Embiid, with a pretty small gap between Davis and Jokic and an even smaller gap between Jokic and Embiid.
Truthfully, you could put these three in any order and I would not argue one bit. They are all uniquely impactful to generating winning basketball, and I would move mountains to have any of them on my team.
With Davis, it ultimately comes down to what I value most in a big-man in today’s NBA: rim protection, defensive versatility and offensive portability (ability to thrive in many different contexts). Davis has been a world-beater on defense during the playoffs while also dominating as a scorer. There are certainly times where it feels as if he is too passive, but when Davis is at his best, you could argue nobody is better.
Jokic, meanwhile, is the epicenter of everything Denver does offensively. He is a brilliant scorer in the post with great touch, he’s developed a three-point shot, he rebounds at an elite level, and, oh yeah, he is the best passing big of my lifetime. Watching him initiate offense and manipulate opposing defenses is breathtaking, and on the heels of what has been a remarkable playoff run, I will barely give him the nod over Embiid… for now.
From Francis: What’s your prediction for the season-derailing ailment that will afflict the next Sixers rookie?
I thought harder about the answer to this than any other question. After pondering many potential bones to break, tendons to tear or allergies to have, I landed at leprosy. Sending my prayers to whoever it is that the Sixers draft.
From Mike: Thoughts on potentially making Elton president of basketball operations and hiring a GM under him?
This seems like where things are leading according to reports, so Mike’s question is timely. While Brand leading a new front office without the Alex Ruckers and Ned Cohens of the world would be better than the current structure, there is just no reason to assume Brand can be the real shot-caller for an NBA team at all, let alone one in crisis -- by the way, that’s a crisis caused by the front office he was part of. It will be an upgrade yet simultaneously a disappointment if (when?) the Sixers go ahead with this. Elton being in the fold in some role makes sense -- he is a positive public presence and has good relationships with the players. There can be a place for him within the Sixers. That place should absolutely not be as the lead decision-maker.