2013 Philadelphia 76ers

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Philadelphia 76ers (Last Year: 34-48)

2012-13 Season Summary:
In the biggest backfiring move since Happy Gilmore’s failed hockey bet with the hot golf chick, the 76ers trading Andre Iguodala, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless for Andrew Bynum last offseason will go down as one of the worst trades ever made by an NBA team. It seemed like a reasonable deal at the time, but Bynum was damaged goods and didn’t appear in a single game this season due to nagging knee problems. Meanwhile, Iguodala played at his usual high level, Vucevic developed into a double-double guy, and Harkless showed promise. Oh, and Philadelphia still owes a protected first-round pick because of that trade. (76ers fans can now repeatedly slam a car door on their head until they lose consciousness.)

The depleted Sixers really didn’t stand much of a chance without Bynum. They finished 14 games under .500 (yet were still just four games out of the playoff picture due to the weakness of the Eastern Conference) as the team lacked any real pop on the offensive end, finishing dead last in the league in scoring. Head coach Doug Collins stepped down after three seasons in the City of Brotherly Love.

There were a couple of positives to take out of the season, Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Thaddeus Young continue to make strides in their game, but none of them are ready to be “the guy” on a playoff contender. Holiday could get to that point in another year or two, while Turner and Young appear destined to be solid role players for the remainder of their careers.

2013-14 Projected Depth Chart:

C: Spencer Hawes/Lavoy Allen/*Kwame Brown

PF: Thaddeus Young/Arnett Moultrie

SF: Evan Turner

SG: Jason Richardson

PG: Jrue Holiday

NBA Free Agents:

C-Andrew Bynum (UFA)

SG-Nick Young (UFA)

SF-Dorell Wright (UFA)

SF-Damien Wilkins (UFA)

PG-Royal Ivey (UFA)

G-Charles Jenkins (UFA)

SG-Justin Holiday (UFA)

*C-Kwame Brown (PO)

2013-14 Team Salary: Approximately $46.2 million

NBA Offseason Team Needs:

1. Size: With Bynum sidelined, Spencer Hawes plugged the hole at the five spot this past season and did a decent job, but by no means is he a real intimidating low-post presence. Philly also used the undersized Lavoy Allen at the five quite a bit, but need to find another low-post scoring threat especially since starting power forward Thaddeus Young doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical four man.

2. Wing Depth: With Nick Young, Dorell Wright, and Damien Wilkins all free agents, Turner and Jason Richardson are the only wing players under contract for next season. Additionally, Richardson is coming off a season-ending injury and you never know how he will respond in recovery. Philadelphia needs to add some scoring options off the bench and at least one shooter to that group.

3. Back-up Point Guard: The 76ers used guys like Jeremy Pargo, Royal Ivey, Shelvin Mack, Charles Jenkins, and Maalik Wayns to spell Holiday last season, but none of those guys truly answered the call as a long-term backup point guard.