76ers offseason review
This offseason was the first one since 2016 where it felt like the 76ers were actually trying to draft young talent and build around Joel Embiid with potential young stars not just old former stars and role players.
I personally enjoyed the drafting of VJ Edgecombe. He’s the perfect mix of being NBA-ready where he’ll produce right away but also having the potential and athleticism to become the VJ is a 6’4” guard from Baylor with the kind of athleticism where he’s as fast as 95% of the league, and the bounce where you don’t want to be between him and the rim.
He’s also said he doesn’t watch offensive highlights, only defensive ones, and that it won’t be hard for him to make an All-Defensive team as a rookie. I wouldn’t want to guard him or be guarded by him because he’s a dawg on both ends.
They also drafted a center from Auburn named Johni Broome in the second round.
I think he’s definitely a high-upside pick, because the 76ers have two solid centers on the roster other than Joel Embiid in Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. Both are really good defenders and rebounders, but once Joel comes off the floor or if he’s injured, we don’t really have any offense. That’s hopefully where Johni Broome can come in and be what he was at Auburn, a skilled, intelligent big man who can produce points when Embiid’s off the court.
So far, this free agency has definitely not been their best one. They re-signed Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry. I don't mind re-signing Kyle Lowry, even though he is old, Nick Nurse really likes him, and I think that he can really jumpstart the development of players like VJ Edgecombe and Jared McCain because they still have a lot to learn. Kyle is a former All-Star and NBA Champion with the Raptors, and he just thinks the game really well and that’s what those guys need to learn how to do.
On the other hand, I do not like the fact that they re-signed Eric Gordon. He is old, and he misses a lot of time with injury for like the 12th guy off the bench, and I would have rather them used some of his $3 million to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele.
Andre Drummond accepted his player option, and I don't mind that other than the fact that he is old and missed way too much time to injury last year for a backup. Even when he was on the court, he wasn’t playing to what he should be.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also accepted his option, which is a very good, team-friendly deal to bring him back. He has been nothing but a great player for the 76ers. He’s brought energy when they needed him to and tried to step up and had 20-point games when we were down stars but when we get players back, he is very good at taking a back seat in the offense and letting stars like Joel and Tyrese Maxey be the stars, while Kelly steps up on defense and rebounding.
Quentin Grimes is the last piece we need. As of today, he still has not currently signed, and it's getting worrisome because he is a guard who can score, defend, shoot, and rebound well for his size. When he hopefully re-signs, the 76ers will feel better about their chances, and if they can, I don’t know what other team stands in their way if they can stay healthy.
What their starting lineup should be in my opinion
1.Tyrese Maxey - He should average 25 ppg this year and is definitely a star
2. Jared Mccain - A good scorer who can average 15 to 20 ppg and can play off ball
3. VJ Edgecombe - Unproven but could average 10 ppg with really good defense and energy
4. Paul Goerge - Good defender who can shoot but average an inconsistent 15 to 20 ppg
5. Joel Embiid - a MVP candidate who patrols the paint and can average 20 to 30 ppg
6. Quentin Grimes - if resigned a great bench player who could average 10 to 18 ppg
7. Kelly Oubre Jr - A great energy player who plays good defense and average 5 to 10 ppg
8. Justin Edwards - an underrated player who could have 15 but will average 6 to 12 ppg
9. Adema Bona - Great defender who will rebound too not great at offense 2 to 4 ppg
10. Andre Drummond - good at defense and rebounding but he will fill minutes 1 to 3 ppg
Overall, this starting lineup is great, and I think to start the season VJ Edgecombe will be on the bench, but I’m high on him and think if there’s someone to make a small-ball lineup work, it would be him. Game 1 will probably be Kelly, but someone else who could take the job is Justin Edwards because he is a good shooter, defender, and rebounder. He needs to work on his turnovers a little, but he could be a guy to plug into this lineup that helps inflate our offense. I think later in the season either VJ Edgecombe or Justin Edwards should work into the lineup. If Joel Embiid can play 60 to 70 games, I think the 76ers could win 50 games this season. But they are still a good team even without Joel because they have a lot of talent they just still need to focus on re-signing Quentin Grimes.
Overall, I think this offseason was solid, not amazing, but definitely better than a lot of the ones they’ve had in the past. The biggest thing I think the Sixers should’ve done in free agency was add a better wing defender, someone who’s long and can really lock up like Matisse Thybulle. I’m not saying they needed to go get him specifically, but just that type of player. They’ve got scorers, they’ve got shooters, but they need that one guy who can guard the best wing every night. Maybe that ends up being VJ Edgecombe, and honestly, I hope it is but we don’t really know yet. Either way, this offseason feels like a step in the right direction, and if the young guys take a leap and everyone stays healthy, this team could actually make some real noise in the East that is gonna have a little bit of a down year.
I personally enjoyed the drafting of VJ Edgecombe. He’s the perfect mix of being NBA-ready where he’ll produce right away but also having the potential and athleticism to become the VJ is a 6’4” guard from Baylor with the kind of athleticism where he’s as fast as 95% of the league, and the bounce where you don’t want to be between him and the rim.
He’s also said he doesn’t watch offensive highlights, only defensive ones, and that it won’t be hard for him to make an All-Defensive team as a rookie. I wouldn’t want to guard him or be guarded by him because he’s a dawg on both ends.
They also drafted a center from Auburn named Johni Broome in the second round.
I think he’s definitely a high-upside pick, because the 76ers have two solid centers on the roster other than Joel Embiid in Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. Both are really good defenders and rebounders, but once Joel comes off the floor or if he’s injured, we don’t really have any offense. That’s hopefully where Johni Broome can come in and be what he was at Auburn, a skilled, intelligent big man who can produce points when Embiid’s off the court.
So far, this free agency has definitely not been their best one. They re-signed Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry. I don't mind re-signing Kyle Lowry, even though he is old, Nick Nurse really likes him, and I think that he can really jumpstart the development of players like VJ Edgecombe and Jared McCain because they still have a lot to learn. Kyle is a former All-Star and NBA Champion with the Raptors, and he just thinks the game really well and that’s what those guys need to learn how to do.
On the other hand, I do not like the fact that they re-signed Eric Gordon. He is old, and he misses a lot of time with injury for like the 12th guy off the bench, and I would have rather them used some of his $3 million to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele.
Andre Drummond accepted his player option, and I don't mind that other than the fact that he is old and missed way too much time to injury last year for a backup. Even when he was on the court, he wasn’t playing to what he should be.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also accepted his option, which is a very good, team-friendly deal to bring him back. He has been nothing but a great player for the 76ers. He’s brought energy when they needed him to and tried to step up and had 20-point games when we were down stars but when we get players back, he is very good at taking a back seat in the offense and letting stars like Joel and Tyrese Maxey be the stars, while Kelly steps up on defense and rebounding.
Quentin Grimes is the last piece we need. As of today, he still has not currently signed, and it's getting worrisome because he is a guard who can score, defend, shoot, and rebound well for his size. When he hopefully re-signs, the 76ers will feel better about their chances, and if they can, I don’t know what other team stands in their way if they can stay healthy.
What their starting lineup should be in my opinion
1.Tyrese Maxey - He should average 25 ppg this year and is definitely a star
2. Jared Mccain - A good scorer who can average 15 to 20 ppg and can play off ball
3. VJ Edgecombe - Unproven but could average 10 ppg with really good defense and energy
4. Paul Goerge - Good defender who can shoot but average an inconsistent 15 to 20 ppg
5. Joel Embiid - a MVP candidate who patrols the paint and can average 20 to 30 ppg
6. Quentin Grimes - if resigned a great bench player who could average 10 to 18 ppg
7. Kelly Oubre Jr - A great energy player who plays good defense and average 5 to 10 ppg
8. Justin Edwards - an underrated player who could have 15 but will average 6 to 12 ppg
9. Adema Bona - Great defender who will rebound too not great at offense 2 to 4 ppg
10. Andre Drummond - good at defense and rebounding but he will fill minutes 1 to 3 ppg
Overall, this starting lineup is great, and I think to start the season VJ Edgecombe will be on the bench, but I’m high on him and think if there’s someone to make a small-ball lineup work, it would be him. Game 1 will probably be Kelly, but someone else who could take the job is Justin Edwards because he is a good shooter, defender, and rebounder. He needs to work on his turnovers a little, but he could be a guy to plug into this lineup that helps inflate our offense. I think later in the season either VJ Edgecombe or Justin Edwards should work into the lineup. If Joel Embiid can play 60 to 70 games, I think the 76ers could win 50 games this season. But they are still a good team even without Joel because they have a lot of talent they just still need to focus on re-signing Quentin Grimes.
Overall, I think this offseason was solid, not amazing, but definitely better than a lot of the ones they’ve had in the past. The biggest thing I think the Sixers should’ve done in free agency was add a better wing defender, someone who’s long and can really lock up like Matisse Thybulle. I’m not saying they needed to go get him specifically, but just that type of player. They’ve got scorers, they’ve got shooters, but they need that one guy who can guard the best wing every night. Maybe that ends up being VJ Edgecombe, and honestly, I hope it is but we don’t really know yet. Either way, this offseason feels like a step in the right direction, and if the young guys take a leap and everyone stays healthy, this team could actually make some real noise in the East that is gonna have a little bit of a down year.
