In three years, this new Philadelphia 76ers team will look completely different. What will be their ranking when it's all said and done?
There is something to be said about a front office that plans for the future. The Philadelphia 76ers with this new front office could be trending in that direction with the moves they’ve made this past offseason. From adding Mike Gansey as the new GM to the signing of LeBron James, the 76ers have been on a roll.
Sporting News has released an early NBA Power Ranking that detailed where they felt the team would be in three years' time. Philadelphia was ranked 14th, and it’s fair to see why. LeBron James and Joel Embiid will surely be off the team and possibly retired. That leaves Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Labaron Philon Jr. These are going to be the guys to carry the team, and that’s ok.
These guys have the talent to keep the 76ers winning. You add in the great work that GM Gansey has done already; it’s hard to see him not continuing that work. Philadelphia was given a C grade on assets considering the lack of depth. But that's not including what they could add. Free agency could shift the tide of that opinion, and that is the gray area many aren’t thinking about.
This grade is a bit of a low ball considering Maxey could still put up high numbers and we know what potential Edgecombe has. For Philon, there won’t be much of an opinion until we see what he can do in live minutes. Edgecombe has the ability to really be something special. He has some of the same abilities that Maxey showed in his first couple years. His ability to handle the ball and get anywhere he wants on the court is something that Philadelphia loved when they drafted him.
The 76ers know what they’re getting out of Maxey, but Philon could be another diamond in the rough. With him potentially assuming the point guard role, it’s going to be interesting to see what he can become. He may see small minutes as a rookie, but by year three there should be tremendous growth that will allow him to assume the starting role. All of this is pure speculation, so everything that’s being said should be taken with a grain of salt.
This team is in good hands. No matter who is on the roster in three years, this team will still be contenders and a thorn in every eastern conference team’s side.
