2018-2019 Finish: 62-20

Season Highlight:

While their record was truly impressive for a 4^th seed, the highlight has to be ZION. Back in December, the team moved on from veteran big LaMarcus Aldridge in a large deal where a New Orleans Pelicans first round pick made its way to Philly. GMs commented that pick could be big and they couldn’t have been more accurate. Wielding the #1 pick, GM vt was thrilled to select Zion Williamson!

Season Lowlight:

This team is packed with talent so not making it to the Finals was surely a blow to this team. Anytime you win over 60 games, you expect to go far into the playoffs. This team will come back hungry and ready to wreck the East next season.

Best Trade:

The Denver Nuggets send Reggie Bullock to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Elie Okobo to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Minnesota Timberwolves send Emmanuel Mudiay to the Toronto Raptors. The Philadelphia 76ers send Tomas Satoransky to the Denver Nuggets. The Philadelphia 76ers send LaMarcus Aldridge, Lance Stephenson and Semi Ojeleye to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Lonzo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Toronto Raptors send Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dwight Powell and Kevon Looney to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves send a 1st-Rounder (NO) to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers send a 1st-Rounder (Phi) to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Philadelphia 76ers receive 5 GM points. The Toronto Raptors trade -5 GM points.

Yes, I chose the Zion deal. You have to, right? LMA and make ‘em dance Lance were moved out but Philly brought in some quality role players especially Bogdanovic. Throw in 5 points on top and you’ve got a great deal.

Worst Trade

The Dallas Mavericks send Louis Williams to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers send Julius Randle to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks send a 2nd-Rounder (Sac) to the Philadelphia 76ers.

This deal isn’t really that bad, I’m just not a huge LouWill fan. I think Randle still has some promise. In the end, this didn’t really matter because got moved a month later for Nassir Little and Kris Dunn, much to my surprise.  

Other Notable Trades

The Detroit Pistons send Quinn Cook to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers send Willy Hernangomez to the Detroit Pistons.
The Philadelphia 76ers send a 2nd-Rounder (SA) and 2nd-Rounder (Phi) to the Detroit Pistons.

Philly got a guy who was more of a win-now kind of player.

The Miami Heat send Lance Thomas and Tomas Satoransky to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers send Rudy Gay to the Miami Heat.


The Miami Heat trade -4 GM points.The Philadelphia 76ers receive 4 GM points.

This move saved the Sixers around 40 Gm points, which is always a good thing.

Free Agency

The priority for Philadelphia this offseason will be retaining Bogdan Bogdanovic. He’s really played well lately and has earned himself a nice contract. He changed teams so he’ll be pricey to retain but he’s priority #1.

Other free agents include role players like Jeff Green, Rodney Hood and Kevon Looney. Green is getting up there in age so I would expect him to possibly move on. For Hood, I think every GM in the league was asked about their interest in Hood for a trade so he may be on the move as well. To me, Looney is priority #2 as he will secure lock down some big man depth on this squad.

Star

Paul George – this was a tough decision between him and Lillard (and Gobert received some thought as well). PG13 was a crucial aspect to this team and when he missed time, his absence was truly felt. The best 2 way player in the game, he impacts the game at all times. He rocketed through the playoffs to the tune of 25 ppg.

Goat

Zach Collins – Only played in 33 games last season and averaged 3.6 ppg is just unacceptable. He was taken 10^th in the 2017 draft and he needs to make more of an impact. He was behind Gobert, sure, but he should be dominating in the 2^nd unit. Perhaps this season he will make himself known?

Draft Grades

#1) Zion Williamson and #59) Dewan Hernandez

The 76ers won the lottery and may have set themselves up for the next 5 years with Zion.  They didn’t get cute and try to outthink themselves, they drafted the guy who’s supposed to be the next transcendent player.  It also works that he plays the position they aren’t strong at right now in PF.  Choosing Zion alone gets them an A, don’t know much about the 59^thpick, but usually they don’t last.

Grade: A

The Future

The window is still wide open for this franchise to get that coveted championship. With a top heavy roster talent-wise and the #1 pick coming into the fold, Philly and vt might just take that next step and see themselves in the NLL Finals representing the East.