After trading Allen Iverson near last February's trade deadline, many didn't expect the Philadelphia 76ers to be as competitive as they were. Though they missed the playoffs, they finished with a record of 35-47, which was good enough for third in the Atlantic Division. Andre Iguodala (the new 'A.I.') emerged as the team's best player and future, while point guard Andre Miller, who was the key player in the Iverson deal, proved to be a good fit for the young team.
The Sixers are expected to surprise again in 2007-2008. They have a lot of young talent and are very athletic. Andre Miller has plenty of options to pass to on the break, from Iguodala and Rodney Carney to Louis Williams and rookie Thaddeus Young. At the very least, this team will be fun to watch at times.
Many expect Williams to emerge as the second coming of Allen Iverson. Though the comparisons are hardly fair, the 6-1 Williams did impress in summer league games, averaging a league-leading 25.2 ppg, while shooting 49% from the field to go with 5.4 rbpg and 5.0 apg. He is a prolific and athletic scorer who should get more opportunity to shine this season.
Statistics Projections/Depth Chart
- Center: Samuel Dalembert 9.3 ppg, 8.5 rbpg, 2.1 bspg (back up: Shavlik Randolph)
- Power Forward: Steven Hunter 6.3 ppg, 4.5 rbpg (back up: Jason Smith)
- Small Forward: Andre Iguodala 21.4 ppg, 6.1 rbpg, 5.3 apg (back up: Thaddeus Young)
- Point Guard: Andre Miller 13.4 ppg, 7.7 apg (back up: Louis Williams)
- Shooting Guard: Kyle Korver 13.3 ppg (back up: Willie Green)
Key Losses
The Sixers will have to do without the crafty veteran, Joe Smith. However, they hope rookie Jason Smith can step up right away and take his place.
Key Additions
Rookies Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith are the biggest additions to note. Drafting Young was a strange move, considering Al Thornton, who is probably better suited for the NBA than Young, was still available. Young is athletic and talented, but very one-dimensional and raw. Moreover, seeing as how they already have Iguodala and Carney, adding another athletic wing doesn't make much sense. Still, Young does have upside. Smith is a different kind of player altogether. At seven feet, Smith is very skilled, mobile and coordinated. He has an effective jump shot and is more of a face up scorer at this point. He had many suiters entering the 2007 NBA Draft.
Team Rumors
No rumors to note.
Prediction
The 76ers won't make the playoffs in 2008, but they will give fans a lot to be excited about for future seasons as they continue to improve. Expect them to finish with a record of 34-48, which will put them back in the lottery. The East is getting better and the Sixers are still a young team. In fact, predicting them to win 34 games might be too generous. Still, they a gritty bunch and could surprise a lot of teams that might be unprepared to match the Sixers' energy.
Fantasy Spin
Andre Iguodala is the darkhorse of this season's fantasy basketball drafts. He has the makings of an exceptional fantasy player and is extremely versatile. Be on the lookout for him between picks 20-30. He could be a steal if he falls later than that.
Andre Miller is a reliable point guard in a year when point guards might be tougher to find. Fantasy owners can count on him for assists at the very least.
Kyle Korver is a three-point specialist, but if that's what a team needs, he's a great late-round find.
Samuel Dalembert is a great pick up in the mid-to-late rounds, provided he can stay healthy. One can expect boards and blocks from this big Canadian.
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