Mail-It-In Mailbag: Simmons Trade Return, Backup Centers, Sixers Draft Options
It’s a pre-offseason, offseason mailbag.
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.
As the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks continue, the Sixers patiently await what will be a monumental offseason, certain to change the trajectory of the franchise in one way or another.
As major decisions loom across the roster, let’s get going with a pre-offseason mailbag.
From Jami: I enjoyed Dwight and his personality this year, but we all know how he looked in the playoffs. Any other guys on the market similar to him that may be a good fit here?
Dwight Howard was a perfectly fine backup center during the regular season, despite some ebbs and flows. In the playoffs, though, his inability to fit alongside Ben Simmons put the Sixers in a very difficult spot, especially after they moved Tony Bradley in the George Hill trade.
Dwight being back next year only makes sense if the Sixers do end up dealing Simmons. With that being far from a certainty, it makes sense for the Sixers to look for backup big-men who can provide at least one of shooting ability and defensive versatility. As effective a rebounder Howard is, in today’s day and age the former skills are considerably more impactful.
Among upcoming free agents, Gorgui Dieng is the first that comes to mind. Dieng is very much a willing and able three-point shooter, and has an impressive track record as a rebounder and rim protector as well.
Formerly of the Boston Celtics, Daniel Theis would make a ton of sense on this Sixers roster as a player who can provide some of the pros of small-ball while not completely ceding power in the paint.
After having such a good season, Bobby Portis may want to stick around in Milwaukee. But if he becomes available, he is likely the best player and fit on the market for the Sixers. Portis shot over 47 percent (!) from beyond the arc in the regular season.
From Joel Simmons: If they were forced to trade Simmons before the season and they couldn’t get Lilliard/Beal/Lavine, would you rather have a young asset/picks package from Wolves (to possibly combine with Sixers assets for next star) or try for a mediocre return like Brogdon, Russell, or Lowry?
In a vacuum, I believe a massive collection of picks gives the Sixers more raw value than a guard in the Malcolm Brogdon / D’Angelo Russell tier. But the Sixers have to look at where they are now -- desperate to establish themselves as genuine championship contenders -- and act through those lenses.
With Joel Embiid in his physical prime coming off a season in which he was the NBA’s second-best player, whether it’s with or without Simmons, the Sixers should be doing everything they can to enable Embiid to lead them to glory.
As valuable as a haul of juicy draft picks may be, the Sixers need to win, and they need to do it now. So even if they can’t nab a perfectly-fitting elite ball-handler, the Sixers should be focused on which trade scenarios make them the best in the short-term.
From Bigs: If you could have any previous process sixer 13’ - 20’ back on the roster next season who would it be and why would they fit with the current roster?
The answer here has to be 2018-19 Jimmy Butler, right? The most obvious, glaring hole on this Sixers roster is an elite perimeter creator who can score on their own and generate good looks for others.
Nobody who has come through Philadelphia in the last eight years has been better at those things than Butler. With all due respect to some excellent players who have donned Sixers uniforms in the last decade, Jimmy seems like the right call here.
From NewHavenIsBetterThanYours: Top 3-5 guys where Philly will be picking that make the most sense for them to draft?
Let me be clear that I am not an NBA Draft or college basketball expert. But after consulting the opinions of some who are, here are a few names that intrigue me at #28 overall…
Tre Mann, a sophomore guard out of Florida, can create space for himself at a high level and is an excellent long-range shooter.
Trey Murphy III boasts an impressive 6’9.25” frame with a 7’0” wingspan. He has the statistical production of an elite shooting prospect, this past season knocking down over 43 percent of his three-point attempts and 92 percent of his free throws.
Jared Butler of Baylor reportedly has medical red flags that may zap his stock, but if he is deemed healthy enough to play, he would fit the Sixers like a glove thanks to his very good playmaking ability as a scorer and passer.