5 Trades the Philadelphia 76ers Should Already Be Thinking About

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Dec 012012
 

So what now?

That’s the question many Sixers fans are asking, as the harsh reality of Andrew Bynum’s prognosis begins to sink in. With each passing ominous update, which lately seems to come with all the anticipation of a root canal, the likelihood of Philly relying on its marquee acquisition any time soon – if at all – fades like Spencer Hawes after a contract extension.

And just like that, although we’re staring at a team with a respectable 10-6 record, expectations have lowered from contender status to, most likely, where they were last season before their makeover: a better-than-average squad that maxes out in the second round.

But even Bynum’s return does not answer every question mark surrounding this team. Sixteen games in, and glaring weaknesses exist in the form of inconsistent shooting and spotty defense.

So what next? They make a deal as groundbreaking as the one which brought the mercurial center to town mere months ago.

So, yours truly decided to play with every basketball fan’s favorite time-waster, ESPN.com’s NBA Trade Machine, and came up with the following gems, all of which should instantly transfer the Sixers from could-have-beens back to will-be’s. Each trade passes Trade Machine muster, meaning that all players’ salaries on both sides match up to make any of these fantasy trades a potential reality.

With that said, let the wheeling and dealing begin…

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Why Sixers Won’t Regret Cashing in for Andrew Bynum

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 232012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers knew what they were signing up for when they sent former franchise cornerstone Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade that resulted in their acquisition of former Los Angeles Lakers star Andrew Bynum among others.

Philadelphia GM Tony DiLeo must have felt that the 25-year-old center’s vast potential outweighed his documented injury history. But given that Bynum has yet to appear in a 76ers uniform through the club’s first 12 games (and the fact that his return still lacks so much as a target date), Philadelphia could be experiencing some buyer’s remorse.

But several GMs still believe that this was a move the 76ers had to make, according to Comcast Bay Area’s Ric Bucher.

Bynum has had a colorful history since the Lakers made him the youngest player drafted in league history when they selected him at the age of 17 with the 10th pick of the 2005 draft.

Standing a legitimate 7’0″ and tipping the scales at 285 lbs., he’s been literally the league’s biggest conundrum. He’s shown flashes of his superstar talent…when his creaky knees have allowed him to stay on the floor that is.

And it’s those same glimpses of the shot-blocking, glass-eating post presence that could have Philadelphia facing grand larceny charges by year’s end.

Not to take anything away from Iguodala, but his time in the City of Brotherly Love had run its course. Philly’s chance to move the 28-year-old wing for a talent-laden Bynum was too good to pass up.

At 7-5, Philadelphia hasn’t yet missed Bynum’s presence. Perhaps that’s because the 76ers haven’t yet had the chance to even realize what it is that they’re missing.

Coach Doug Collins has blended his team’s athleticism and perimeter threats well. His players have held opponents to the fewest points allowed per game in the league (90.92), while they have converted on 37.5 percent of their three-point attempts (seventh best in the NBA).

But Philadelphia’s been lacking the physical, intimidating presence that Bynum will bring. The 76ers’ minus-3.67 rebounding differential ranks 27th among NBA teams. The 6’8″ Thaddeus Young and the 6’7″ Evan Turner lead the team in rebounding with 7.6 and 7.4 boards per game respectively. Considering that Bynum’s fresh off a career-best 11.8 rebounds-per-game effort in 2011-12, his ability to finish defensive possessions could actually improve the league’s stingiest defense.

Bynum’s ability to change shots at the rim would also be a welcome addition for a team short on intimidation. Coach Collins has spurred one of the better shot-blocking team efforts (6.33 blocks per game, 10th in the NBA), but he’s lacked that one great shot-blocker at the basket. In fact, the perimeter-oriented Spencer Hawes leads this team with 1.6 blocks per game (19th in the NBA).

Offensively, Bynum could help the 76ers find more of the point-blank looks that have thus far eluded them.

Philadelphia’s 41.1 field-goal percentage ranks 29th in the NBA, ahead of only the winless Washington Wizards. With Kwame Brown (46.2 field-goal percentage) and Lavoy Allen (38.2) splitting time in the middle, coach Collins has yet to draw up the post isolations he’ll call when Bynum—a career 56.6 percent shooter—returns.

It’s easy to get frustrated by Bynum’s absence with each turn of the calendar. But the most important thing for this franchise and the new face of it is making sure that when Bynum does return to the floor that he’s healthy enough to avoid further trips away from it.

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Sixers Have No Choice but to Take Latest Andrew Bynum Setback in Stride

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 172012
 

In one of the most high-profile trades in NBA history, 2012 All-Star Game selections Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum and Andre Iguodala were all traded to new teams (via ESPN Dallas). In the deal, Howard went to the Los Angeles Lakers, Iguodala was shipped to the Denver Nuggets and Bynum moved to Philadelphia to play for the 76ers.

Three months later, the Sixers are learning why the Lakers abandoned the Bynum project to begin with. After yet another setback in his road to recovery from a knee injury, Bynum has placed Philadelphia in a helpless situation.

No matter how badly they may want out, the Sixers must take the latest setback in stride.

During the month of October, Bynum received an injection of Synvisc to relieve inflammation in his right knee (via ESPN). Just one month later, Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Bynum has suffered a setback in his recovery process.

This time around, it’s both knees that are suffering from damage.

 

Bynum has setback as he says there is swelling and cartilage damage in left knee. Other injury is in right knee

— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) November 16, 2012

 

As for how this impacts his return date, that remains unclear.

 

Bynum said there is no timetable for return nor that it has changed from what team announced earlier this week.

— Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) November 16, 2012

 

No matter how painful it is to accept, the 76ers have no choice but to see this tragedy all the way through. As for those who will debate said belief, the following should offer all the evidence you need.

 

Where’s the Replacement?

Unless the Philadelphia 76ers plan to make a trade to acquire interior depth, their top two centers are Kwame Brown and Spencer Hawes. While the two have become quality role players, neither holds a candle to the star that Andrew Bynum has become.

Nor will any other player they trade for.

With no viable replacement in sight, the Sixers would be foolish to do anything but display patience. Bynum is an All-NBA caliber talent with more postseason experience than any other player on the roster.

Even a veteran such as Jason Richardson hasn’t made three NBA Finals appearances.

With this being known, why even bother attempting to trade for a replacement center? Should Bynum return in January, he will instantly become the most dangerous offensive player on the roster.

There’s simply no logic in neutralizing that possibility before it’s given a fair shake.

 

Pending Free Agent

The Philadelphia 76ers traded franchise player and fan favorite Andre Iguodala to acquire Andrew Bynum. If that’s not impetus enough to give Bynum a full season to contribute, how about this?

Bynum is set to become a free agent upon the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.

Although speculation suggests that Bynum will re-sign with the 76ers, there is the chance that he doesn’t. With that possibility in mind, Philadelphia must do all it can to maximize Bynum’s talent while he is under contract.

If the Sixers fail to do so, they’ll have lost their leader for nothing.

 

Built Around Bynum

The truth of the matter is, abandoning the Andrew Bynum project in any way would be a virtual admittance of defeat. The Sixers’ roster was constructed in a manner that would maximize Bynum’s world-class abilities.

If the Sixers are going to depart from their plan to have the 7’0″ center as their franchise player, look for it all to crumble in Philadelphia.

Jrue Holiday is playing beautiful basketball, while Evan Turner is producing at a consistent level. To say that the duo can lead the Sixers to legitimate postseason success, however, is nothing short of blind optimism.

In order to win a title, the team needs Bynum. While they could build in a new direction, that would require their scrapping all previous plans.

With Bynum, they contend. Without him, they falter.

It’s time to display patience.

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Andrew Bynum: Philadelphia 76ers’ Risky Gamble on Star Center Will Backfire

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 142012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers went all-in on a major gamble this summer, swapping Andre Iguodala—in the Dwight Howard megatrade—for Andrew Bynum.

In doing so, the Sixers team brass gave up the face of the franchise—a player fresh off an Olympic appearance with incredible defensive abilities—for an injury-plagued, immature center who just wrapped up his first healthy campaign since 2006-07.

Bynum isn’t expected to suit up and start playing until January, and the team—which is off to a mediocre 4-3 start—would only have a few short months to make an impression on the 25-year-old New Jersey native.

Needless to say, with Iguodala on the floor helping to change the culture of the Denver Nuggets, this trade looks like an absolute disaster.

While the big man did say he was leaning toward making Philly his new home back in August, the backlash from fans is starting to pick up and frustrations are mounting with each loss that Bynum sits on the bench in a suit for.

Perhaps the main reason why the Sixers are having so much trouble is the lengths in which the team went to showcase their latest acquisition, leaving little depth or alternative options in the case of an injury.

Because the franchise gave up not only Iguodala this summer, but also lost second-year center Nik Vucevic and prospect SF Maurice Harkless in the deal—plus used their amnesty provision on PF Elton Brand—they simply don’t have the size, depth or defensive prowess required to hang with the top teams in the NBA.

After an impressive opening night win against Denver, the Sixers dropped two in a row to the Knicks, put together a three-game winning streak against the Anthony Davis-less New Orleans Hornets, tired Boston Celtics and undermanned Toronto Raptors, before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Just imagine how much better off this team would be with Bynum starting and logging significant minutes at the 5 over a mediocre, hodge-podge platoon of Lavoy Allen and Spencer Hawes.

Inevitably, the 76ers are going to start getting beat badly inside and the cries for Bynum’s return will crescendo until he can make his return. If he doesn’t play at an All-Star level immediately, this fan base is going to have no qualms turning on a player that they have no emotional (and little financial) investment in just yet. 

If that happens, don’t expect Bynum to hang around the City of Brotherly Love past the upcoming summer.

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Andrew Bynum’s Latest Setback Will Torpedo Sixers’ Chances to Contend

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 122012
 

Can you hear that?

It’s the sound of Andrew Bynum‘s knee crumbling under the pressure of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ championship aspirations and the breaking of said title hopes as a result.

We’d all be lying if we didn’t say that we saw this coming. After weeks of waiting for the team to establish a timetable for Bynum’s return, we’d be ignorant not to accept the obvious—Bynum wasn’t setting foot on the hardwood anytime in the near future.

And now, the elephant in Philadelphia’s locker room has spoken. That’s right, the Sixers finally announced (via Yahoo! Sports) what we all pretty much already knew:

Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum will miss at least five more weeks because of a bone bruise in his right knee and may not play in a game until early January.

When Bynum was hurt in mid-September, the team initially hoped its newly acquired star would be ready for the season opener Oct. 31. Late last month, though, the Sixers said he was out indefinitely.

Again, this comes has no surprise. After all, if there had been good news to share, the team would have divulged it long ago.

Yet the Sixers didn’t because there wasn’t anything to tell. Nothing to offer that wouldn’t erase Philadelphia’s championship push, that is.

You see, after acquiring Bynum—who is indisputably the second-best center in the NBA—the Sixers became an instant powerhouse. He would be able to compress defenses the way that Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes never could, creating opportunities and opening lanes for guys like Jrue Holiday—among others—that Andre Iguodala never did.

And such a bold proclamation was fine back then. But not anymore.

Without Bynum, the Sixers are still a stingy defensive team. They’re allowing just 88.33 points per game, second-best in the league. They’re a talented, deep bunch without him as well. Guys like Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young, Nick Young and Evan Turner haven’t exactly turned heads, but we understand what they bring to the court on a good night. Plus, there’s Jrue Holiday, who has been a stud in Bynum’s absence.

But that’s enough to make the playoffs, not fuel a championship a run. The Sixers currently have the 27th-ranked offense in the league, averaging just 88.67 points per bout. That’s given them a win differential of just 0.34 points—essentially nothing.

So yeah, they’re keeping their heads above .500. For now. How much longer is that going to last, though?

You can’t contend for a championship by just barely winning and never exuding dominance.

Which is where Bynum was supposed to come in. He was supposed to be that star presence in the post, the franchise star that carried this team on both ends of the floor. 

He’s no longer a symbol of hope, but rather an indication of all that continues to go wrong for the Sixers. 

Bynum has already missed six games, and if he won’t be fit to return until January 1, he’ll miss another 30 contests, 18 of which come against legitimate playoff hopefuls.

Without someone to intimidate the masses, how well are we to expect Philadelphia to perform during this stretch? Better yet, once Bynum is in game shape, how long will it take for him to become acclimated to his new teammates?

You see, the Sixers aren’t just facing another 30 games of Bynum-less basketball, they’re facing that plus at least another month of growing pains.

On paper, Bynum transformed this team into a contender overnight, but in reality, it takes time to build a rapport with one’s teammates. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakers. Or Miami Heat. Or Denver Nuggets. Or even the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It doesn’t matter if a team is integrating a bevy of star talents or just one superstar into its game plan. No matter the amount, whenever a franchise pillar is involved, these things take time.

Which is a luxury that Philadelphia isn’t afforded. Because not only are the Sixers not a contender without Bynum, but upon his return, they instantly have to reestablish their identity. And a championship-pedigree identity isn’t about to actualize itself in time for the Sixers to make a legitimate championship push. Not this season, anyway.

But perhaps maybe next year.

If the state of Bynum’s knee permits a new contract, that is.

 

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Andre Iguodala ‘was trying a little too hard’ to ‘destroy’ 76ers in Nuggets’ season-opening loss (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Orlando  No Responses »
Nov 012012
 

In one of lovely little quirks of the NBA schedule, Andre Iguodala’s made his first regular-season appearance as a member of the Denver Nuggets in the familiar — if not necessarily friendly — of the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night, taking on the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that drafted him ninth overall in the 2004 NBA draft and with which he had spent the first eight seasons of his professional career. (And it is a “quirk” — remember, the 2012-13 schedule was released two weeks before Iguodala was shipped to Denver in the four-team blockbuster trade that landed Dwight Howard in Los Angeles and Andrew Bynum in Philly.)
The combination debut/homecoming didn’t go nearly as well as Iguodala hoped; even with new franchise center Bynum sitting due to a knee injury , the Sixers had the defensive wherewithal to stall Denver’s fast-paced offense, notching an 84-75 win behind five double-figure scorers led by 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks from mulleted sixth man Spencer Hawes. The night was a struggle for Iguodala individually, too, as the 2012 NBA All-Star and Summer Olympian scored just 11 points on 13 field-goal attempts, missing all four of his 3-point tries and two of his three free throws — he looked tentative and awkward throughout his 35 minutes of floor time, and Denver largely followed suit.
After the game, Iguodala — always a thoughtful quote, even when he’s saying things that his former supporters might not particularly enjoy — admitted to feeling the kind of totally understandable pressure to which athletes rarely feel comfortable admitting. From John Smallwood at the Philadelphia Daily News :
“I think I was trying a little too hard,” said Iguodala [...] “Your first thought [about playing a former team] is always, ‘Destroy them.’ You want to win the game. First and foremost, you want to play well.
“Being human inside, it’s hard to block that out, to not let it affect your game, not try to force it. At times, that affected me. If I hadn’t had a shot in a while or wasn’t being impactful as I wanted to be, I would think about forcing it instead of letting it flow.”

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Win Without Andrew Bynum Proves Philadelphia 76ers Are NBA’s Deepest Team

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 012012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers took the court without their star player, defeated the Denver Nuggets and made a significant statement in doing so.  Even without Andrew Bynum, the 76ers showed that they deserve to be considered the deepest team in the NBA.

The 76ers have built their roster around Bynum with a good mixture of shooters, athletes and defenders. Coach Doug Collins demands defensive intensity, and the depth of the 76ers means they can produce 48 minutes of tough defense.

Starting for the 76ers are Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Lavoy Allen and Bynum. That lineup doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of defenses, as they won’t light up scoreboards, but they will defend with their last breath.

The first five off the bench are Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright, Nick Young, Spencer Hawes and Royal Ivey. They aren’t the type of bench players who could come in as a unit, but they will fill in different places each night. Coach Collins loves to have flexibility, and he isn’t shy about using it.

Collins used 14 different starting lineups in 2011-12, and the most common lineup was only used 12 times. He’s definitely a matchup guy who will rotate players based on a number of indicators.

Richardson and Young are shooters who provide instant offense. Both are shooting guards by trade, but Young is 6’7″ and can slide over to the small forward in a pinch.

Royal Ivey is a veteran who can come in behind Holiday to provide a steady hand when needed. He’s 6’4″ and well-traveled. He’s played for the 76ers before, which adds a level of comfort for both sides.

Dorell Wright came over from the Golden State Warriors and is one of the athletes off the bench that can shoot, get into the passing lanes and rebound. At 6’9″, Wright will play the small forward almost exclusively.

Lastly, Spencer Hawes comes off the bench to fill in at power forward and center. He’s a 7’1″ monster who battled injuries during the 2011-12 season. He still put up averages of 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks. In this offense, a big man who can pass is a must.

Overall, the 76ers are used to having a solid bench. They had the No. 4 team for bench scoring and the No. 4 team for difference in efficiency during the 2011-12 season, according to hoopsstats.com.

After a preseason in which the 76ers won six out of seven games, they started the 2012-13 season with a bang, thanks to the bench. Hawes and Wright combined for 30 points, 19 rebounds, four steals and six blocks to lead the 76ers to victory.

The 76ers made a statement in the preseason. They made a statement in the regular-season opener, and they will continue to make a statement throughout the 2012-13 season.

They’re not just Bynum and 14 other guys—they’re the deepest team in the NBA.

 

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Projecting Each Philadelphia 76ers Player’s Minutes Per Game in 2012-13

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 122012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers made a lot of changes to their roster this past offseason, so it will be interesting to see how many minutes each Sixer plays next season.

The 76ers’ starting five has yet to be announced by coach Doug Collins, so here is a projection of the starters for opening day: Jrue Holiday, Jason Richardson, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Andrew Bynum. 

If this lineup isn’t performing up to expectations, look for Collins to tweak the starters as the season goes along. 

Playing time is a big deal to NBA players. In order to manage the 76ers’ team chemistry, Coach Collins must do his best to keep all of his players happy.

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Spencer Hawes: The Invisible 7-Footer of Philadelphia

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 092012
 

Over the course of the last few months, the 76ers have undergone a bevy of changes on their roster and in the front office. Most notably, Olympian Andre Iguodala was involved in a three-team deal that sent Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. 

Since that time, most of the conversation has revolved around the 24-year-old seven footer’s role in the organization. However, there has been little discussion regarding the other starting 24-year-old seven footer, Spencer Hawes. 

Hawes has been playing center his entire career. However, coach Doug Collins has proclaimed that Hawes will now be shifted over to power forward, a position he has never played before. What makes the switch even more interesting is Hawes had arguably his best season last year while manning the middle. 

Hawes started off the year with a bang, garnering four double doubles in the first two weeks of the year. At the end of the season, Hawes achieved career highs in rebounds (7.3), assists (2.6), and blocked shots (1.3) despite nagging injuries to his Achilles and back.

What makes the move so interesting is that Hawes has not been much of a defensive player. He’s too slow for quicker players and has a tendency to be bullied in the paint. However, Hawes has demonstrated the potential to be a quality shooter.

For example, in 2008-09 he attempted 114 three point shots and made 40 of them. Good for just shy of 35 percent. He’s also shooting just under 47 percent from the field for his career.

Consequently, I believe that moving Hawes outside could greatly benefit his skill set. By having Bynum on the floor, Hawes will likely have an advantage in size every single night. This will make his shots harder to block and provide Hawes with a better advantage on the glass, which is one of his strong suits. Additionally, as wonderfully detailed in this piece by Rich Hofmann, the Sixers can use Hawes as a set up man for Bynum in a similar vein as Pau Gasol. 

Given all of this, I believe that while Hawes will struggle early to adapt to covering a new area on the floor, but will ultimately be better off for it. As a result, I’m predicting he’ll improve on his career highs in assists and rebounds while averaging just over ten points a night.  

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Spencer Hawes: The Invisible Seven Footer of Philadelphia

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 092012
 

Over the course of the last few months, the 76ers have undergone a bevy of changes on their roster and in the front office. Most notably, Olympian Andre Iguodala was involved in a three-team deal that sent Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. 

Since that time, most of the conversation has revolved around the 24-year-old seven footer’s role in the organization. However, there has been little discussion regarding the other starting 24-year-old seven footer, Spencer Hawes. 

Hawes has been playing center his entire career. However, coach Doug Collins has proclaimed that Hawes will now be shifted over to power forward, a position he has never played before. What makes the switch even more interesting is Hawes had arguably his best season last year while manning the middle. 

Hawes started off the year with a bang, garnering four double doubles in the first two weeks of the year. At the end of the season, Hawes achieved career highs in rebounds (7.3), assists (2.6), and blocked shots (1.3) despite nagging injuries to his Achilles and back.

What makes the move so interesting is that Hawes has not been much of a defensive player. He’s too slow for quicker players and has a tendency to be bullied in the paint. However, Hawes has demonstrated the potential to be a quality shooter.

For example, in 2008-09 he attempted 114 three point shots and made 40 of them. Good for just shy of 35 percent. He’s also shooting just under 47 percent from the field for his career.

Consequently, I believe that moving Hawes outside could greatly benefit his skill set. By having Bynum on the floor, Hawes will likely have an advantage in size every single night. This will make his shots harder to block and provide Hawes with a better advantage on the glass, which is one of his strong suits. Additionally, as wonderfully detailed in this piece by Rich Hofmann, the Sixers can use Hawes as a set up man for Bynum in a similar vein as Pau Gasol. 

Given all of this, I believe that while Hawes will struggle early to adapt to covering a new area on the floor, but will ultimately be better off for it. As a result, I’m predicting he’ll improve on his career highs in assists and rebounds while averaging just over ten points a night.  

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