Philadelphia 76ers: Exit Interviews Reveal Potential Player Movement
Bryan Colangelo and Brett Brown recently held their exit interviews. Here we cover the major talking points and some possible targets in the offseason.
As is customary for NBA teams, the Philadelphia 76ers recently held their end-of-the-season exit interviews. While all players gave their time to the media, the most attention was paid to the two most important figures in the organization.
President of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo and head coach Brett Brown each made summations of the season past, all the while looking forward to the summer and beyond.
Each covered a variety of issues. Colangelo addressed the front-office and off-court issues, and Brown discussed his coaching strategy and player development.
But during their respective interviews, there were some common themes to emerge.
Shooters
Colangelo raised the topic by stating, "You can never have enough shooters."
Brown noted on the topic of acquiring shooting talent:
"To be successful, there is the obvious answer of shooters."
Jahlil Okafor
Okafor struggled mightily in his second season, and even received multiple Did Not Play – Coach's Decision. And while Brown was wholeheartedly behind rehabilitating Okafor this coming offseason, Colangelo was more reserved in endorsing Okafor next season and beyond:
"We're not in a race (on his future) to make a decision, we're taking a very path towards success and building an organisation."
4-Spot
Both Colangelo and Brown agreed that this was an area in which Philadelphia needs to upgrade, whether it be in the starting lineup or as a backup to the incumbent Dario Saric.
Playing Style
The Sixers are going to continue embracing the modern-day NBA, summed up in three words by Brown:
"Defense, pace and space".
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Perimeter Game
It's certainly no surprise that outside shooting will be one of the Sixers' key priorities this offseason. For this past season, the Sixers ranked 27th in field goal percentage at 44.7 percent. Further, they were 25th in three-point percentage at 34.0 percent. And most notably, the Sixers ranked dead last for offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) at 100.7.
As Brown stated in his press conference:
"…we are going to embrace three-point line. It will lead us in the draft, it will lead us in free-agency."
Small forward Robert Covington was the most frequent three-point shooter this past season, averaging 6.1 attempts per game. This was the lowest percentage of any player in the league averaging at least 6.1 attempts. Furthermore, Covington again failed to break the 40 percent shooting from the field barrier. This has now occurred in each of his three season in Philadelphia.
Colangelo noted on Covington's role:
"At the 3, Robert Covington kind of has that position locked up. Not a lot of depth at the position currently. We have some interesting draft prospects in the top 10 that could address that need."
Another important perimeter threat for the Sixers was Nik Stauskas. Granted, Stauskas shot a career-high 36.8 percent from downtown. But after three seasons in the league, Stauskas has yet to break the 40 percent from the field barrier. Colangelo stated that Stauskas "has improved himself to be a higher consideration of the overall plan." Brown, meanwhile, simply stated that "we have to identify the 2-guard position."
And while he played just three games last season after signing a three-year, $27 million contract last summer, Jerryd Bayless garnered plenty of mention. Colangelo stated:
"Jerryd Bayless is like a free agent signing that's already happened…a maniacal worker. First person in the gym. Every single day."
Bayless could certainly be one player that could address the Sixers' shooting weakness. Entering his ninth season next year, Bayless shot a career best 43.7 percent from behind three in the 2015-16 season, his first full season before arriving in Philadelphia. In a separate interview recently, Brown highlighted the importance of what Bayless could bring the Sixers next season:
"It's somebody that can guard the other point guard, it's somebody that can make a three, it's somebody that can bring the ball up the floor from time to time or run a second side pick and roll. I think that Jerryd does, to Bryan Colangelo's credit, fit the qualities that we're going to need in that position next to Ben Simmons."
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jahlil Okafor
The introduction of Joel Embiid made Okafor somewhat superfluous at varying times of the past season. In his 53 games, Okafor was a show of the rookie who averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. But not only was Okafor's production down due to playing time (30.0 minutes per down to 22.7), it was also his health. Okafor battled knee soreness throughout much of the season, and was finally shut down for the final 11 games of the season.
Coach Brown was very much looking forward to what the summer has to bring for Okafor.
"The ability to expand his game is the exciting part for me….this summer we go overboard on his health….help him get a better understanding on how we wanna play. Our mission this summer is to get his body right. He recognises that this is a helluva an important summer…and if you want to point it to one thing, it's health."
Brown's comments were slightly in contrast to those offered up by Colangelo regarding Okafor's future:
"Jahlil Okafor finds himself where….there's a pretty big road block ahead…we will continue to observe and monitor him and grow him…to get him where he needs to be. And if a deal comes along that makes sense for both of us then we'll go ahead and make the deal. We're not in a race to make any decision, we're taking a very measured path towards success and building an organisation."
Still just 21, Okafor has an enormous upside and still plenty of time to live up the billing of being the third overall pick of the 2015-16 draft. Having played just 103 out of 164 regular season games, the sky is the limit.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
4-Spot
The emergency of Dario Saric was one of the more positive storylines from the Sixers' season. Following an inauspicious start to his NBA career, Saric finished his debut season with a bang. Over his last 30 games, Saric posted 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.0 minutes per game.
Colangelo was full of praise for Saric's season:
"At the 4 position, Dario Saric clearly established himself this season, that he is an extremely valuable NBA player, that he's making a nod for himself to be that locked in starter at the 4 for many years to come."
However, he added a slight change in tone later in his press conference when asked about potential roster improvements:
"A stretch 4, backing up Dario or starting ….if we can find someone that's better. We've probably gotta address that 4 position."
"If we can find someone that's better"
This was a telling quote. Despite the obvious upside of Saric and the tremendous growth he has already shown, Colangelo can see the big picture.
In January, the 76ers posted a 10-5 record. It's no accident that Embiid averaged 23.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in the nine games he played that month, including a 7-2 record.
So although both Colangelo and Brown explained that they were building the franchise for the long-term, anything is possible. The Sixers will not only have potentially two of the top four selections in this years upcoming draft, they also have a great amount of salary cap space to acquire players via either trade or free-agency.
The fact that Colangelo raised the possibility that a player could be brought in to replace Saric in the starting lineup is telling.
Potential Target
James Johnson, Miami Heat
Johnson had a breakout season with in his eighth year inn the league, averaging 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 27.4 minutes per game. In terms of filling Brown's mantra of "defense, pace and space", Johnson fits the bill in all three areas.
Among the favourites to earn sixth man of the year honours, Johnson was a model of consistency throughout the season. And when thrust into the starting lineup for the final four games of the season in the race to the playoffs, Johnson showed his mettle. Over these four games, Johnson averaged 16.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 37.0 minutes per game.
Recently turned 30, Johnson has developed a great affinity for Miami and the culture which catapulted them to a 30-11 record to finish the season. And with this likely to be his greatest chance at a big pay-day, enticing Johnson to leave the Heat will require some serious work.
Colangelo could do far worse than to offer Johnson a three-year, $42 million contract. A three-man front-court rotation of Embiid, Johnson and Saric would provide coach Brown with an array of options heading into next season.
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan -USA TODAY Sports
Defense, Pace And Space
Colangelo and Brown were very definitive in the type of roster they wish to build.
Colangelo stated:
"We want to keep and maintain a type of player – its about talent, its about character and its about skillset."
He also added that it comes down to keeping a core group of players, which he said coach Brown referred to as "keepers".
Brown was very adamant and convincing in portraying the type of playing style and roster the Sixers will field when attempting to climb the standings:
"We are defence, pace and space. We are going to guard in the city of Philadelphia. We are going to run and we are going to embrace the three-point line. It will lead us in the draft, it will lead us in the free agency."
The groundwork towards Brown's mantra of "defence, pace and space" was evident this past season. The Sixers ranked fifth in the league for PACE (number of possessions per 48 minutes) with 100.96. They ranked seventh in the three-point goal attempts with 29.8 attempts per game. The other segment of this trifecta saw the Sixers rank 16th in the league in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) at 106.4.
When referring to players who they could be looking to bring in, Brown stated:
"We don't have to tick all three (criteria) – but you better go two for three."
Potential Target
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Bradley fits the bill in all three areas. Coming off a 2015-16 season which saw him named to the NBA all-defensive first team, Bradley has again proven himself to be among the best two-way guards in the league. Further to his excellent defense, Bradley this past season averaged a career-best 16.3 points per game while hitting at a terrific 39.0 percent clip from behind three. Furthermore, he ranked sixth amongst all guards in rebounds with 6.1 per game.
Bradley is still just 26 with one year remaining on his contract. With the Celtics having some key personnel decisions to make this coming offseason, it's very possible that a player such as Bradley is made available in order to avoid signing him to a large extension next summer.
Bradley's ability to play off the ball and defend either guard spot would represent a tremendous fit in Philadelphia moving forward.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Next Season
As alluded to earlier, the Sixers have plenty to look forward to this season. With potentially two of the top four picks of the upcoming draft and a stack of salary cap space, Colangelo and his front office are going be awfully busy in the coming months.
Identifying the correct players to bring into the franchise is undoubtedly a big responsibility. As Colangelo explained during his press conference:
"Building consensus between management and coaching is critical."
As a whole, Colangelo and Brown seem to be very much on the same page. Colangelo was full of admiration for Brown and his staff for their outstanding work ethic, whereas Brown was thankful of both Colangelo and ownership for simply stepping back and allowing him to coach.
This co-operation between management and the coaching staff is going to be vitally important this summer. All things going well, next season could be anything in Philadelphia. This includes:
The Sixers improved from 10 wins in 2015-16 to 28 wins this past season.
With a clear vision and some superstar talent yet to scratch the surface of their potential, the league should be on notice that the Philadelphia 76ers mean business.
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