The Philadelphia 76ers’ season is over. Two years removed from losing 72 games, Philadelphia climbed to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, won their first playoff series in six years, but finally succumbed to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 on Wednesday.
This is just the beginning for the 76ers
The 76ers flamed out in the playoffs, but their future is bright as hell.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
So yes, it was premature to speculate about how the 76ers could coast all the way into the Finals by taking advantage of a weakened Eastern Conference. Philadelphia’s young roster had veterans, but they lacked the front-to-back cohesion that Boston brought (plus sensational coaching from Brad Stevens and his staff). Play this series 10 times, and the result would have flip-flopped in a few of them. But despite the Celtics’ injuries, it seemed clear this result wasn’t just some fluke.
Still, that doesn’t change anything about Philadelphia’s future. Can we talk about that? It has been discussed at length throughout this season, but as they go home, can we appreciate what’s to come?
Literally, here’s just a list of things that the Sixers can still be looking ahead to.
- Joel Embiid is 24 years old with just a year and a half of NBA experience under his belt. Ben Simmons just completed his inaugural year at the age of 21, one that will likely get him Rookie of the Year honors, and he can only get better. (This series definitely showed he has flaws to iron out, namely a jump shot.) Dario Saric is also 24, and he’s a key piece who can keep adding to his game, too. The core has them winning now, but it’s also young. That only adds to their bright future.
- Markelle Fultz was a virtual non-factor this year, although he did finish with 17 games played between the regular season and the playoffs. His jumper was virtually non-existent, but it looked like he had made progress from his bizarre non-form that he suffered from early this season. I’d be hard pressed to think that Fultz won’t be an effective player in some capacity next year, just given how much raw talent the kid has and how one full offseason under the (very cautious) eyes of Philadelphia’s training staff should help him regain his mojo.
- The Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick will likely be conveying to Philly, barring the Lakers winning the No. 2 or No. 3 pick in the lottery. (In that instance, it would go to Boston.) The Lakers finished No. 10, and so this is another lottery pick that will be added to the roster.
- Philadelphia has about $30 million in cap space, depending on how you view it. They could make room for a max free agent or they could spend it more shrewdly somewhere else. Yes, LeBron James is an option. More likely, the 76ers make another J.J. Redick-type signing ... or just re-sign Redick himself. Would Paul George have any interest? That’s an intriguing name, even if it seems like he has committed to other possibilities instead.
- I’m still rooting for the 76ers to make a real, honest-to-goodness role player out of Justin Anderson or Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, too. I think it can happen. (Probably TLC, who played most the season before a season-ending injury.)
The 76ers lost, and it shouldn’t feel good to go down to a Kyrie Irving-less Celtics. But they should get plenty more chances to play Boston in the postseason if this rivalry and these two team’s futures go according to plan.
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