I agree with this sentiment, and this is the one major reason Sam Hinkie gets so much leeway regarding his three-year tank job.
Say what you want about the product now, but the Philadelphia 76ers are going to be loaded entering the 2016 training camp and ready to replace several franchises in the Eastern Conference as upper echelon teams.
With the Knicks and Sixers both in awful situations right now, several NBA executives believe Philly has the brighter future.
“If [Joel] Embiid is [Hakeem] Olajuwon instead of [Greg] Oden, the answer is Philly,” one NBA executive said.
“The Knicks have one first-round pick in the next two years, zero second-round picks and zero worthwhile International rights guys. Philly has two first-round picks this year, four second-round picks in the next two and the rights to [Dario] Saric and [Vasilije] Micic. Melo is better than any current 76er but Philly has a far better coach and more talented young players.”
A former NBA GM chimed in with similar thoughts on who has a brighter future.
“The Sixers, long term,” he said. “They have young talent and multiple draft picks.”
If all goes according to plan, the 2016 Philadelphia 76ers lineup will come at you in waves with a lineup that includes Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Nerlens Noel, and likely Emmanuel Mudiay or Jahlil Okafor.
Add in a big name free agent or two who will fit under $30 million in cap space and you have a potential juggernaut. The Knicks for their troubles, have Anthony, Hardaway Jr. and the allure of the summer of ’15 or ’16.
