Didn’t get many responses in the comments section, but luckily folks on Twitter and Bluesky came through.
Let’s get right into your questions.
I’ve been saying all offseason that the Sixers are much more committed to the youth of this team than outside perception. I think those rumors mostly speak to that. Obviously, Quentin Grimes’ contract could bring the team dangerously close to the dreaded second apron. Moving either of those veterans would give the team more breathing room — which helps them
now and with possible future team building.
With that said, I’m much more interested in moving Andre Drummond than Kelly Oubre Jr. If you could dump Drummond to a team like the Nets — while attaching a minor asset — it would free up a roster spot. If Daryl Morey then dives into the minimum market, it would help with the second apron situation. So, you could essentially upgrade Drummond’s roster spot and pay that upgrade less money for maybe the cost of a second-rounder.
I’m less eager to trade Oubre in a salary dump situation. Oubre has real value. If the team struggles as we approach the deadline, I think Morey would be foolish not to consider trading Oubre. But attaching an asset to get off his salary? I wouldn’t love that.
I don’t think it’s about the team believing Joel Embiid and Paul George will be healthy — or so unhealthy to the point of tanking. In the case of Drummond, if Embiid isn’t healthy, how competitive can this team really be? A play-in spot is certainly feasible in the depleted East. But is Drummond the difference between the 10th or 11 seed? Does that even matter? If Embiid is unable to play this season, it feels more much valuable to see what you have in guys like Adem Bona and Johni Broome than retreading with Drummond.
To a lesser extent, it’s the same deal with Oubre. If George and Embiid are both not playing, the team should want to get a longer look at Justin Edwards, Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow. They should also view that as an opportunity to experiment with Grimes and VJ Edgecombe playing the 3.
If Embiid and George are healthy, there’s plenty surrounding them to win games — even if Drummond and Oubre are moved. If both aging stars are unhealthy, let the kids play and see what you’ve got.
Rebounding is likely to be an issue for the Sixers once again. With a healthier Embiid and Ben Simmons in the fold the Sixers were one of the better rebounding teams in the NBA. That’s what makes this recent descension really stand out. It was also massively exploited by the New York Knicks in the playoffs in 2024.
The Sixers are guard-heavy and won’t magically get bigger overnight. They have guys like Oubre, Edgecombe and Grimes who are good rebounders for guards, but the lack of true fours and so much uncertainty at center will likely lead to more issues on the glass. For as high as I am on Bona, he’s not a great rebounder. Nick Nurse’s scheme is also a factor — with guys scrambling so much defensively it takes an extra level of focus to finish possessions with rebounds.
Your only real hope is Broome, Walker and/or Barlow finding roles on this team at the four. All three guys are strong rebounders and could help, but it’s hard to know how much meaningful run they’ll get. Broome was as productive a college player as we’ve seen recently, but there was a reason why he was a second-rounder. Walker and Barlow are intriguing, but they’re on two-way deals for a reason. If one of those guys pops it should be considered a huge win for the front office.
This is borderline impossible for me.
I’m 40, so my early introduction into football was the Eagles of the early 90s. My first football memories are of Reggie White terrorizing quarterbacks, Randall Cunningham revolutionizing the quarterback position, Seth Joyner being everywhere and Eric Allen returning pick-sixes. My first football jersey was a Ricky Watters Kelly green one (he literally only wore it his first season).
But those black Allen Iverson-era jerseys just ignite something in me, man. Everyone that’s followed me here knows how I feel about Iverson. He’s my favorite athlete of all time and one of the reasons I’m doing this job. Things were so bleak for the Sixers for me as a kid. They traded Charles Barkley who went on to win MVP and take his team to the Finals the literal next season. They drafted Shawn Bradley over Penny Hardaway and Sharone Wright over Eddie Jones, who was in their own freaking backyard.
There was no Process to acquire Iverson. The team simply sucked its way into the No. 1 overall pick. Everything about Iverson made me love him when I was an impressionable preteen. His game spoke for itself. Off the court, he was unapologetic, emotional and human. He was his authentic self, and there was nothing cooler than that.
All of that to say … it depends. The Kelly green Eagles jerseys simply look cool. Yes, part of it is thinking about Randall and those Buddy Ryan defenses, but from simply a look standpoint, Kelly green wins. If we’re talking feelings and emotions evoked, I go Sixers black jerseys. Think it boils down to the Sixers were the most successful in my lifetime while wearing the black jerseys. The Eagles have won two Super Bowl in Midnight green.
Though Saquon Barkley did his backwards hurdle in Kelly green, that doesn’t quite match Iverson’s Step-Over when you consider the magnitude. It’s like asking me to choose between my children though (I only have one, so you can’t actually do that).
The first part of this question I’ve touched on a bit. I expect Grimes to be the starting 2, regardless of what else the Sixers do. I also expect Nick Nurse to use three guards aplenty, with either Grimes or Edgecombe being asked to guard up. I think it will work. It might not! But the Sixers need to try it when you consider all the talent at guard.
Oh, that’s a great question! It was probably Theo Ratliff and then that turned into Dikembe Mutombo once the trade went down. A guy I’ll always have a soft spot for though: The Sheriff, Rodney Buford. He had a few nice games as Sixer. The dude could go get a bucket, something the Sixers desperately needed from someone who wasn’t A.I. Larry Brown obviously preferred his defense-first guys — which proved to be the correct strategy.
Whenever Embiid isn’t playing, I expect the Sixers to play at a breakneck pace. They have one of the fastest players in he league in Maxey. McCain and Grimes are also good in transition. Edgecombe is going to be a freaking nightmare on the break for opponents. Add in a rim-running big like Bona and the team will likely look totally different. Even 35-year-old Paul George is a good transition player.
I would expect a ton of pick-and-roll in the half-court, especially when Bona is in there. Giving these guards a lob threat like Bona is going to feel like stealing on some nights. I would also expect the Sixers to jack up a ton of threes between all the guards and a guy like Edwards. We even saw Broome firing away in the summer league. Plus the ball movement should be better with no player having a ridiculous usage rate. While Bona is just an OK rebounder overall, he’s excellent on the offensive glass, so that could wind up being very helpful.
