The 76ers took a leap of faith on draft night as they traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans for Nerlens Noel, and a 2014 first-round draft choice. Holiday was easily the Sixers best player, but they decided to rebuild without him. Moving Holiday hurts the Sixers in the near term, but it certainly helps for the future. Also, by moving Holiday the team has $40 million that they can use to build a team either this off season or the following. They receive arguably the most talented player in the draft, and another first round pick. Sam Hinkie did what Tony DiLeo could not, and that is give the franchise a sense of direction.
The plan is to clearly build around Noel, who is recovering from a torn ACL. He is not expected to join the team until at least December, but has stated that his goal is to return in November. While some may argue that drafting an injured player is a bad idea, it is in fact a smart plan devised by Hinkie. The Sixers are clearly not going to be contenders next year, and they are clearly not going to win a lot of games. Let Noel recover properly, and when he is ready let him come in and develop into the stud he will become. Letting Noel take his time and heal is exactly what the Sixers will do as they know that they will not be in contention next season.
The 2014 pick that Hinkie managed to pry from the Pelicans is going to pay off in the future. Next year’s draft class is stacked with talent and contains at least a dozen players that could have been taken 1st overall this year. The 76ers will end up with two lottery picks in an incredible class, and will acquire more young talent that will help build a better team. Now that the free agency period has opened there are many questions surrounding what the Sixers will do. They will likely target more young players that they can get cheap, but also look to sign veterans for one year deals to help keep money freed up for the following off season.
More good news for the team is that Spencer Hawes, and Kwame Brown are now expiring contracts and will likely not return to Philadelphia after the season. Do not look for the team to go after big names or make any big signings this off season as they may wait until next off season to make splash. Something to look out for however is a trade of Thaddeus Young or Evan Turner as the Sixers will look to shed as much payroll as they can.
Sam Hinkie did more than a great job in his first draft as Sixers GM as he gave the team the direction it desperately needed. Philly was not winning a title with the team they had or even with Jrue Holiday, and Hinkie knew this. He has given Sixers fans something to look forward to in an amazing prospect like Noel, and has also given the fans much hope for the future.
While it is going to take at least a few years until the Sixers to become a good team the fans have to become patient and just watch Hinkie devise more plans and try to make this team as young and talented as he possibly can. There is a rough patch ahead for our 76ers but now all we can do is sit back and watch to see what Hinkie can do to help rebuild the team for the future.
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