NBA Power Rankings: Philadelphia 76ers Is Worst Team In The NBA! How Long Will They Keep Tanking? Will Fans Continue To Wait?
The Eastern Conference is swirling with the winds of change. While it will still not be able to match the strength of the West, some of their ranks are rising at the NBA Power Rankings. Old whipping boys like the Charlotte Hornets (formerly Bobcats) and Cleveland Cavaliers are now playoff teams.
However, the Philadelphia 76ers, after contending for the worst record in the NBA last season and getting the third overall draft pick (which turned out to be the injured Joel Embiid), they are still on a mission of mediocrity for the upcoming season.
They recently threw their hat in the blockbuster trade of the year throwing out their best player Thaddeus Young.
The breakdown of their moves from Sheridan Hoops:
"Right now, no one seems to have a clue. The party line to the fan base has been "Stay patient and eventually you'll be rewarded.'' But with each passing day and each transaction it becomes harder and harder to buy into the thinking that such a revolutionary strategy will wind up being anything more than revolting, time-consuming and fruitless.
Their latest move - as part of the Kevin Love trade, the worst secret on earth - sent Thaddeus Young, by far Philadelphia's most accomplished player, to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While Young's contractual status (player option after next season) made him expendable, the Sixers reportedly were getting decent value in return."
'Decent value' was supposed to be Anthony Bennett, the first overall pick from last year. But the Sixers decided they needed a mentor for Joel Embiid so they ended up with..
"Say hello to forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a career 6.3 ppg scorer who will be joining his fourth NBA team in six seasons. Please welcome shooting guard Alexey Shved, who has shot just 36 percent while averaging 6.5 points since arriving from Russia two years ago.
Oh, they got one more thing: That coveted draft pick, giving Hinkie & Co. yet two more first-rounders barring one unlikely development: the Sixers actually qualifying for the playoffs."
The Sixers will have tons of cap space at the end of the year, but the question is, who'll sign with them? Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony both complained about their losing teams, and even LeBron James cared about winning. How well can Hinkie sell the 'long term plan' to free agents and even their fans?
They could become the next super team with their high draft picks or the biggest laughing stock the league has ever seen.