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Sixers primed to get better, one way or another

The buzz present all day leading up to the 76ers' home opener was undeniably more pronounced than it has been in quite some time. The city seems genuinely excited about this young group that went out and won three games on an unprecedented five-game road trip to open the season.

The buzz present all day leading up to the 76ers' home opener was undeniably more pronounced than it has been in quite some time. The city seems genuinely excited about this young group that went out and won three games on an unprecedented five-game road trip to open the season.

And, really, what's not to like? In point guard Jrue Holiday, you have a cool, smooth, 21-year-old who is quickly climbing the ranks of top point guards in the NBA. He has shown an ability to score, dish, defend and carry the team at times - as evident by his 14 fourth-quarter points in Wednesday's come-from-behind win at New Orleans.

There's also the 2010 second overall pick, Evan Turner, who, after such a disappointing first season, seems to be rounding into the player many envisioned. He might have had his best game as a pro in New Orleans, posting 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. But it is so much more than numbers with him. He is convinced he's back to being the dominant player who won college player-of-the-year honors at Ohio State 2 years ago.

In Spencer Hawes, you have a player who seems to have found his game after a lost season a year ago. So far, he has proved to be an exceptional shooter, one of the best passing big men in the league, and is averaging more than 11 boards a game. This Sixers offense goes through the big man, and right now there might be no one in the league who could do it as efficiently as Hawes is doing it for coach Doug Collins.

Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young join Turner in forming perhaps the most lethal group of bench players in the league. Andre Iguodala is still one of the better all-around players in the game, and Elton Brand can still do the dirty, tough-man work that is desperately needed.

The hope, from Collins to club president Rod Thorn, is that this team can take advantage of its youth and use the condensed schedule to its advantage, using young bodies to battle through what will certainly seem like an endless amount of games in a shortened period of time. A home seed for the playoffs would certainly be welcomed and is a credible goal. From there, who knows?

But there could be even more reason for fans to be optimistic. Should things not work out as hoped this season, there should be some easy ways to make improvements.

At the beginning of training camp, Collins alluded to this season as being one in which evaluations would be performed constantly. He talked of looking at the young, core players and seeing how, and whom, this franchise could build around.

And for the first time in quite some time, the team could have some flexibility to do just that.

Holiday, Young, Turner and rookie Nikola Vucevic are locked in contractually for a little while. Barring any unforeseen collapse in their play or their health, they'll be here for quite some time. Iguodala has 2 more years left on his contract after this season - $14.7 million next year, $15.9 million in 2013-14 (a player's option). Brand's contract runs out after next season, when he is due $18.1 million. Williams is owed $6.3 million next season, but it is a player option. He could opt to go elsewhere and maybe get that starting spot he probably yearns for.

So what does it all mean?

What if Holiday, Turner and Young prove this season they could be a core group to build around and management and Collins are sold on that? Obviously, you need money to build. Here's where it could come from.

The team could amnesty Brand next season, meaning his contract does not count against the cap. The Sixers would still have to pay him one way or the other. If Brand signs with another team, for, say, $5 million, the Sixers still would have to pick up the rest of what he is owed on his original contract. But that would still be $18 million off the cap. Undoubtedly, the team option of $7.5 million owed Andres Nocioni is coming off. The $3.8 million that was qualified to Marreese Speights is gone, since he was just traded. And what if Williams does opt out? Or what if they can make a deal for Iguodala and get an expiring contract?

Add to all that the fact that Hawes is playing this year under a qualifying offer at $4 million, after which he'll become a free agent.

The point is, while a coach and team president always are evaluating, it is especially important this season as to how this franchise will move ahead.

"I think we have some assets now that are valuable, some younger assets that will be increasing, and, as they improve and play more, it could put us into an advantageous position to do different things, pending on how things play out," Thorn said. "We have high hopes for this young nucleus. We'll see how it comes together and plays together and then be in a good position to move forward.

"I think we've got a bunch of guys early in their careers, and we need to make the proper evaluations. It seems to me they are coming together well and going forward well in this compressed season. It will be very important in the evaluations that we're going to have to make, moving forward."

When Collins was named coach, his main goal was to make this team relevant in the city again. He wanted the Sixers to be in the forefront in the sports thinking of this town. He hasn't reached that goal yet, he said, but it's coming.

"I think we're on pace, but this business is very fragile, day-to-day," Collins said. "As a coach, you always feel that way. As a coach, unless you have a team that's loaded and you've been together a while and you know night to night what you're going to get as far as what kind of play, it's a very fragile experience. Believe me, as a coach, I recognize that. You win a game, and you have a great feeling for about 2 hours, and you land off the plane, or whatever, and you start agonizing over the next game.

"As a coach, you worry about 15 guys getting ready. As a player, you can sort of zero in on yourself. I think the big thing in my position is to try to be a good leader, put these guys in position to win. Our younger players are getting better, which, I think, is exciting, and I hope the city of Philadelphia recognizes that, for the longest time, this was a star-driven franchise with Allen Iverson and now we are sort of strength in numbers, with six or seven, eight, nine guys on a particular night. I think we're the epitome of a team. We don't have the mega star.

"We've just got to keep winning and, hopefully, these fans will get behind us, and everywhere I go, the things I hear is they like their team. Until we can start knocking on the door and get into the elite, we know we've got a long way to go."

Sixers blog, Sixerville, at www.philly.com/Sixerville.

Follow Bob Cooney on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BobCooney76