Philadelphia 76ers’ Future Draft Pick in Jeopardy

The Los Angeles Clippers have finally discovered their fate. The NBA made a ruling that forced the Clippers to lose their first round draft picks for the next five years. This ruling has made many be wary of the pick in 2029 that was to be owed to the Philadelphia 76ers. 

The good news is that there won’t be any impact by this ruling, and the pick still belongs to the 76ers. The 76ers acquired this pick when they made the trade for James Harden to join the Los Angeles Clippers. This pick is so far out that it’s truly hard to determine how valuable this pick will be. 

It’s something to behold how one team’s screw-up could potentially derail the future for others. Now we don’t really know what that pick could be, but we do know that there is some hope, as this front office knows how to find hidden talent. By 2029, LeBron James will likely be retired, and Joel Embiid may also be on his way out the door by then. That leaves VJ Edgecombe and possibly Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. All three of these guys are going to be cornerstone pieces for the team. Let’s not forget about Labaron Philon Jr. if his skills pan out like the 76ers’ hope.

Even with all these players possibly at their disposal, they are going to need more. Especially considering what we’re talking about is only three years away. Draft capital is always important when you’re continuously trying to build a contending team. Right now, the team is set up for championship aspirations. That window is very small for many franchises, and you may never have another chance like this. For Philadelphia, they want to keep this window as wide as possible.

What better way to do that than with adding young players in the draft? There will still be plenty of veteran leadership on this team, and that will be the uplifting part. They could use that draft pick and either draft a young rookie or leverage that pick in a trade to acquire another star that can keep the team competitive. There's always room for improvement; it’s just a matter of how you go about making those adjustments.

While the penalty for the Clippers was a steep one, it mattered very little for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, they can breathe a sigh of relief and continue to worry about what’s in front of them.