Going into the 2019-20 season, the Philadelphia 76ers were considered one of the favorites coming out of the Eastern Conference. Despite losing dynamic scorers Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick, the Sixers still had a good looking team heading into the season. With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons running the show, Tobias Harris returning, and Al Horford and Josh Richardson coming in with a fresh start, the Sixers were ready to roll. Well things didn’t end well for the Sixers.
The Philadelphia 76ers had a disappointing season finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 43-30 record. Ben Simmons ended getting a season ending knee injury in the last few games in the regular season. And they just got swept out of the first round by the rivals, the Boston Celtics. Very Ugly end.
After this disastrous season, things need to change and there has to be A LOT of changes this off season. Here is what I think the Sixers need to do to “restart” the Process.
- FIRE BRETT BROWN
It’s time to let this guy go. Brett Brown has been the head coach for the Philadelphia 76ers for the past seven seasons, and the Sixers have not reached the potential that they were made for. In 2018, they had a chance to be in the Eastern Conference Finals, but blew their chances against a star-less Celtics in the second round. In 2019, they lost to the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi finals. And in 2020, with high hopes for a team, they got swept in the first round. The guy was a great hire for “The Process”, but he is not a good fit for this team anymore. He has a talented roster, but his coaching decisions have made the Sixers not the team they are today. Brett Brown NEEDS to go.
2. TRADE AWAY AL HORFORD, TOBIAS HARRIS, OR BOTH
Tobias Harris signed a 5 year/$180 million dollar deal to return to the Sixers last off-season. Al Horford signed a 4 year/$109 million dollar deal to leave the Boston Celtics and join the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris averaged around 15 points per game in the playoffs, while Horford averaged 7 points per game. These guys are being paid so much money to contribute solid numbers for the team, and they are pouring in these numbers. They can both be solid players on some nights, but they are guys who are consistent. Both of the guys aren’t shooters, and it is something this team lacks of. You need to get rid of one of these guys to get a solid shooter in return or money to sign a good role player in the off season.
3. KEEP JOEL EMBIID AND BEN SIMMONS FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER
There is no need to split these guys up, especially now. They haven’t been together long enough, and each year I feel like they are figuring themselves out. I feel like under the right coaching these guys can possibly get to the way they want to play together. I do think that they both have a lot of things to work on like Simmons shooting outside shots, and Embiid coming ready to play every game. But you need to keep them together a little longer as they are developing more of their game. If things don’t change in 2-4 seasons, its time to split them up. BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME.
4. SIGN OR TRADE FOR THEIR SOME SHOOTERS
The Sixers struggled from the outside this season, and the playoffs which is a big reason why they had the season they had this year. You could really tell the Sixers really missed having Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick as they were guys that could knock down shots when needed. The Sixers couldn’t buy a bucket from the outside with Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle taking the 3 point shot. They need some shooting, because besides pounding the ball inside to Embiid, the Sixers have no good offense.
The Sixers have a lot to think about this off season, and we are going to have to wait and see how this offseason will go.
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