Embiid was available during trade deadline... wonder if Danny offered

[celticsclay]

I don't understand the outrage over trading MCW for the eventual Laker pick. Should they have stubbornly committed to MCW even if they didn't like his game and were presented with a decent offer?

They drafted the guy.  Stuck him on a horrible team where management did everything possible to ensure it would suck.  He was Rookie of the Year.  And they unloaded him for a pick that can't be better than #6 this year and, if they don't get this year, will probably be in the 10 to 14 range of the lottery at best next year.  I really doubt the Lakers will try for a 15 win season again.

I'm not the biggest MCW fan but Philly has set back their rebuild by at least another year without any guarantee of actually being improved.

Mike

I was as down on MCW as just about anyone, but if the pick does end up being number 15 in 2016 draft that has to be considered a bad trade by them right?

[coffee425]

I don't believe at all that Embiid was available.  If you read the article it sounds like someone who doesn't understand the NBA at all.  He's lumping in Embiid as a "young Philly player", because he saw KJ McDaniels and MCW traded.  MCW was traded because Philly (and pretty much everyone else) felt he was supremely overrated and will likely get a better player out of the pick they received.  KJ McDaniels is whatever.  Embiid is seen as a future superstar.  They probably made him available on draft-day in an attempt to trade up to get Wiggins (their desired target), but beyond that it wouldn't make sense for them to trade him.   Sure, they probably would have listened if someone offered LeBron James, but they definitely weren't actively shopping him.

Before we bash the author of the article, Mark Heisler was inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame for basketball journalism. He's been around forever, so I'm sure his contacts run deep.

[Nerf DPOY]

I don't understand the outrage over trading MCW for the eventual Laker pick. Should they have stubbornly committed to MCW even if they didn't like his game and were presented with a decent offer?

They drafted the guy.  Stuck him on a horrible team where management did everything possible to ensure it would suck.  He was Rookie of the Year.  And they unloaded him for a pick that can't be better than #6 this year and, if they don't get this year, will probably be in the 10 to 14 range of the lottery at best next year.  I really doubt the Lakers will try for a 15 win season again.

I'm not the biggest MCW fan but Philly has set back their rebuild by at least another year without any guarantee of actually being improved.

Mike

I was as down on MCW as just about anyone, but if the pick does end up being number 15 in 2016 draft that has to be considered a bad trade by them right?

I have no clue what the 2016 draft looks like for depth, but it's going to take one heck of a summer for the Lakers to rise that high in the standings.

[celticsclay]

I don't understand the outrage over trading MCW for the eventual Laker pick. Should they have stubbornly committed to MCW even if they didn't like his game and were presented with a decent offer?

They drafted the guy.  Stuck him on a horrible team where management did everything possible to ensure it would suck.  He was Rookie of the Year.  And they unloaded him for a pick that can't be better than #6 this year and, if they don't get this year, will probably be in the 10 to 14 range of the lottery at best next year.  I really doubt the Lakers will try for a 15 win season again.

I'm not the biggest MCW fan but Philly has set back their rebuild by at least another year without any guarantee of actually being improved.

Mike

I was as down on MCW as just about anyone, but if the pick does end up being number 15 in 2016 draft that has to be considered a bad trade by them right?

I have no clue what the 2016 draft looks like for depth, but it's going to take one heck of a summer for the Lakers to rise that high in the standings.

While I agree, they also will have probably have the most to work with of any team this offseason. They will presumably be adding Randle, a top 5 pick, get kobe back for one final season and then have cap space to sign any number of free agents. The big question is who will be available and who will take their money. However, knowing the Lakers history of getting who they want, I wouldn't bet against them signing or trading for some top level talent before next season.

[MBunge]

I don't understand the outrage over trading MCW for the eventual Laker pick. Should they have stubbornly committed to MCW even if they didn't like his game and were presented with a decent offer?

They drafted the guy.  Stuck him on a horrible team where management did everything possible to ensure it would suck.  He was Rookie of the Year.  And they unloaded him for a pick that can't be better than #6 this year and, if they don't get this year, will probably be in the 10 to 14 range of the lottery at best next year.  I really doubt the Lakers will try for a 15 win season again.

I'm not the biggest MCW fan but Philly has set back their rebuild by at least another year without any guarantee of actually being improved.

Mike

I was as down on MCW as just about anyone, but if the pick does end up being number 15 in 2016 draft that has to be considered a bad trade by them right?

I have no clue what the 2016 draft looks like for depth, but it's going to take one heck of a summer for the Lakers to rise that high in the standings.

I can't see the Lakers making the playoffs as soon as next year but there's no way they'll sit tight and bring back a 15 win roster for next season.  Given all the teams in the East that will still suck, 10 to 13 would be entirely possible.

[BornReady]

Embiid was probably available

I think everyone on their team is available but it depends on the price

The asking price is definitely too high for a C with injury problems, conditioning problems and hasn't played a game since being drafted

They would probably ask for 2 first rounders (one high- mid lottery + non lottery) and their own 2nd rounders plus a young player

[bdm860]

Actually, I don't doubt this is true, I just imagine Philly was looking for a Chris Webber-to-Golden State or KG/Pierce-to-Brooklyn type deal.

Embiid for Wiggins and unprotected 1sts in ’15, ’17, and ‘19?  Of course Philly would do that trade.

Embiid for The Greek Freak, an unprotected ’15 and ’17 pick,  and the right to swap in ’16 and ’18?  Giddy up.

I’m pretty sure Sam HInkie’s hell bent on outdoing the OKC model and won’t stop till he gets equivalent of drafting LeBron/Dwight/Chris Paul in back-to-back-to-back years.  If it looks like he has to settle for Carmelo Anthony/Emeka Okafor/Deron Williams instead, he’ll just hit the reset button and start all over.

[celticsclay]

Actually, I don't doubt this is true, I just imagine Philly was looking for a Chris Webber-to-Golden State or KG/Pierce-to-Brooklyn type deal.

Embiid for Wiggins and unprotected 1sts in ’15, ’17, and ‘19?  Of course Philly would do that trade.

Embiid for The Greek Freak, an unprotected ’15 and ’17 pick,  and the right to swap in ’16 and ’18?  Giddy up.

I’m pretty sure Sam HInkie’s hell bent on outdoing the OKC model and won’t stop till he gets equivalent of drafting LeBron/Dwight/Chris Paul in back-to-back-to-back years.  If it looks like he has to settle for Carmelo Anthony/Emeka Okafor/Deron Williams instead, he’ll just hit the reset button and start all over.

I don't think he will be afforded that opportunity. This will most likely be there second straight year of winning less than 20 games and their third straight in the lottery. I think they have to show a little improvement next year and really significant improvement the following year. How long do owners under pressure from fans and declining ticket sales and luxury boxes purchases give him to have a winning team?

[bdm860]

Actually, I don't doubt this is true, I just imagine Philly was looking for a Chris Webber-to-Golden State or KG/Pierce-to-Brooklyn type deal.

Embiid for Wiggins and unprotected 1sts in ’15, ’17, and ‘19?  Of course Philly would do that trade.

Embiid for The Greek Freak, an unprotected ’15 and ’17 pick,  and the right to swap in ’16 and ’18?  Giddy up.

I’m pretty sure Sam HInkie’s hell bent on outdoing the OKC model and won’t stop till he gets equivalent of drafting LeBron/Dwight/Chris Paul in back-to-back-to-back years.  If it looks like he has to settle for Carmelo Anthony/Emeka Okafor/Deron Williams instead, he’ll just hit the reset button and start all over.

I don't think he will be afforded that opportunity. This will most likely be there second straight year of winning less than 20 games and their third straight in the lottery. I think they have to show a little improvement next year and really significant improvement the following year. How long do owners under pressure from fans and declining ticket sales and luxury boxes purchases give him to have a winning team?

When Hinkie got the job I don't think he was pitching a quick turnaround time.

I don't know much about the Sixers ownership group, but if they're cold enough, those ticket sales don't really matter as long as they still get their slice of the tv revenue.

You can go 0-82 and have 0 attendance every game and still be a profitable team (or at least have very minimal losses) in the NBA.  And just think about how the true financial benefit of owning an NBA team isn't in the yearly profits/cash flows, but in the appreciation of franchise value.

I personally think Hinkie was given a pretty long leash (at least 5+ years) to do whatever he wants  with the goal to hit homeruns in like 2-3 drafts in a row. Durant/Westbrook/Harden, Kobe/Duncan/Dirk, LeBron/Howard/Paul, Hakeem/Jordan/Malone, Bird/Magic/McHale, etc., just think of some teams that could have been built if you nailed the draft for 3 consecutive years (or had multiple picks some years).  That's the dream Hinkie sold.

[celticsclay]

Actually, I don't doubt this is true, I just imagine Philly was looking for a Chris Webber-to-Golden State or KG/Pierce-to-Brooklyn type deal.

Embiid for Wiggins and unprotected 1sts in ’15, ’17, and ‘19?  Of course Philly would do that trade.

Embiid for The Greek Freak, an unprotected ’15 and ’17 pick,  and the right to swap in ’16 and ’18?  Giddy up.

I’m pretty sure Sam HInkie’s hell bent on outdoing the OKC model and won’t stop till he gets equivalent of drafting LeBron/Dwight/Chris Paul in back-to-back-to-back years.  If it looks like he has to settle for Carmelo Anthony/Emeka Okafor/Deron Williams instead, he’ll just hit the reset button and start all over.

I don't think he will be afforded that opportunity. This will most likely be there second straight year of winning less than 20 games and their third straight in the lottery. I think they have to show a little improvement next year and really significant improvement the following year. How long do owners under pressure from fans and declining ticket sales and luxury boxes purchases give him to have a winning team?

When Hinkie got the job I don't think he was pitching a quick turnaround time.

I don't know much about the Sixers ownership group, but if they're cold enough, those ticket sales don't really matter as long as they still get their slice of the tv revenue.

You can go 0-82 and have 0 attendance every game and still be a profitable team (or at least have very minimal losses) in the NBA.  And just think about how the true financial benefit of owning an NBA team isn't in the yearly profits/cash flows, but in the appreciation of franchise value.

I personally think Hinkie was given a pretty long leash (at least 5+ years) to do whatever he wants  with the goal to hit homeruns in like 2-3 drafts in a row. Durant/Westbrook/Harden, Kobe/Duncan/Dirk, LeBron/Howard/Paul, Hakeem/Jordan/Malone, Bird/Magic/McHale, etc., just think of some teams that could have been built if you nailed the draft for 3 consecutive years (or had multiple picks some years).  That's the dream Hinkie sold.

I am not going to pretend to know a lot about how NBA finances work, but I would think there are some pretty significant revenues that come in from selling out corporate suites and luxury boxes. That has been a big sticking point in where the warriors may move their stadium out here and how many high end seats the new stadium will be able to hold. I also think that the clubs make a significant amount of revenue from in stadium advertising, merchandise and concession sales.

I have to think that once you get to the point of 3 horrible years in a row (and not just in terms of record, but with no players anyone is going to pay to see in person), there starts to be some pressure to make changes. If embiid doesn't work out and/or the player they draft this year doesn't pan out you, do you really think Hinkie will have an infinite leash?

[SHAQATTACK]

I bet DA and the 76ers GM would not do a deal under gunpoint is my guess.