Sixers Projected 2017 Win Total Announced

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Between the drafting of first overall pick Ben Simmons, the expected professional debut of a currrently healthy Joel Embiid, and the stateside arrival of Dario Saric, the offseason for the Philadelphia 76ers has been swirling in nothing but optimism. Apparently, the powers that be in Las Vegas happen to believe those good vibes will translate to the court, as they posted a regular season win total for the Sixers of 27.5 wins.

2016-17 NBA regular season win totals

Heat 36.5
Bucks 39.5
Timberwolves 41.5
Pelicans 36.5
Knicks 38.5
Thunder 45.5
Magic 36.5
76ers 27.5

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) September 20, 2016

Clearly, the warlocks in the desert feel the team will be much improved from the squad that won just 10 games a year ago. Even more though, this projected win total is well above the numbers in the teens and low-20’s which Vegas pegged the team at prior to the last couple seasons. On another occasion, I’ll get into why I feel 27.5 wins is a bit too high. For now, it’s just good to know that the public perception holds that the franchise is moving in the right direction.

Potential Draft Implications:

• The Sixers win total is the 4th-worst listed among all teams, ahead of the Nets (20.5), Lakers (24.5), and Suns (26.5). If Philadelphia did finish with the 4th-worst record, they would have an 11.9% chance at the first overall pick from their pick alone.
• Except that the Sixers also own the rights to swap picks with Sacramento in the 2017 draft. The Kings are projected to have the 5th-worst record in the league (32.5). Such a finish would be tremendous from the Sixers’ perspective, as they would receive an extra 8.8% chance of getting the #1 pick by virtue of the Sacramento spot in the lottery.
• The other high-profile draft asset for 2017 is the Lakers’ top-3 protected first-round pick. As mentioned above, Los Angeles is projected to have the 2nd-worst record. Sixers fans will have to hope that the Lakers are slightly better than Vegas predicts, or that the lottery gods drop the Lakers down a couple spots. In a very deep 2017 draft, Philadelphia wants this pick to convey this year.
• Finally, as a result of the Kendall Marshall-Tibor Pleiss deal with Utah, the Sixers have a couple 2nd-round picks to track during the season. Philadelphia will receive from the Jazz the most and least favorable 2nd-round picks of Golden State (66.5), New York (38.5), Detroit (45.5), and Utah (47.5). Vegas expects those picks to end up as the Knicks’ selection around pick 40, and the last overall pick from the Warriors.

While Vegas certainly knows a lot more than any of us, they don’t actually know everything. We’ll still have to see how things play out on the court over the next 6-7 months.