Inside the 76ers: A plan for drawing free agents
It's a question that most 76ers fans ask: How does their team plan to attract free agents? The Sixers realize they won't be major players for the franchise-altering free agents this summer.
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It's a question that most 76ers fans ask: How does their team plan to attract free agents?
The Sixers realize they won't be major players for the franchise-altering free agents this summer.
But their answer is clear.
"Some people say the [overall] class is not as strong a class of free agents," said Jerry Colangelo, the Sixers chairman of basketball operations. "Well, our job is still to create an atmosphere here where free agents want to come to you.
"And so you've got to get it jump-started first. That comes over a period of time. It doesn't happen overnight."
That's why Colangelo makes frequent trips from Phoenix to Philadelphia to meet with general manager Sam Hinkie and coach Brett Brown. He knows the Sixers were recognized as the laughingstock of the NBA. And in the minds of some, they still are.
Something about a league-worst 8-50 record does that, regardless of whether it's a result of tanking. A squad that has won a total of only 45 games since Hinkie took over in May 2013 isn't a desired destination for this summer's top free agents: Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, and DeMar DeRozan. Nor is it for the 2017 free-agent class that could include Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serge Ibaka, and Philly native Kyle Lowry.
Heavily sought-after free agents typically re-sign with their current teams, latch onto a contending team, or team up with another superstar to build a winner.
The Sixers' only bet is to determine who on this roster and who in the draft can become the superstars needed to attract A-list free agents.
Apparently, Colangelo has a similar mind-set.
"I think you have to create an atmosphere that is really attractive to free agents," Colangelo said, "and you need to create a pool of players that others want to join, and they see the future and the potential.
"We could talk in theory about how that's going to happen. But we just need to go out and start doing things. When we do, I think we will have a shot to become a destination. That's our goal."
That's part of the reason this summer is important to the franchise.
A lot of focus will be on the center situation. Folks want to know whether the team will trade Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel or keep both of them.
During that time, we may also get closer to seeing Joel Embiid, who is regarded as the most skilled of the three. But so far he has been perhaps the most popular non-active player in Philly pro sports history.
The 7-foot-2 post player with three-point range hasn't even participated in five-on-five practices after being selected third overall out of Kansas in 2014.
He had bone-graft surgery to repair the navicular bone in his right foot in August. He'll miss the entire season. Embiid missed what would have been his rookie season after surgery in June 2014 to repair a stress fracture in the same bone. There's no guarantee that he'll have a healthy NBA career or a career at all.
"People do concentrate on the three bigs," Colangelo said. "You hear that all the time. But that will take care of itself to some degree. There are a number of options with bigs. But you need to look at [point guard, shooting guard, and small forward]."
Those are positions the Sixers are giving a lot of thought to for the draft.
"If you look at a depth chart, up on the board, regarding our present talent," Colangelo said, "and what options are maybe available through the draft, you're still playing with balls, in terms of the lottery. You don't know exactly where you're going to fall."
Louisiana State forward Ben Simmons is expected to be taken with the first overall pick. Duke forward Brandon Ingram, Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield, California swingman Jaylen Brown, and Providence point guard Kris Dunn are some options for the Sixers if they don't get the first pick.
The Sixers will have to determine which of those players has the best chance to become the superstar needed to attract free agents, assuming they have a chance at drafting them.
"It's a little premature for us to think that we are a destination, but our goal is to become that," Colangelo said. "We want to become a player. That's the whole plan."
@PompeyOnSixers