PG: Isaiah Canaan/Tony Wroten
SG: Hollis Thompson/JaKarr Sampson/J.P. Tokoto
SF: Robert Covington/Jerami Grant
PF: Nerlens Noel/Richaun Holmes/Furkan Aldemir
C: Joel Embiid/Jahlil Okafor
2015 Free Agents
SF Glenn Robinson III (RFA)
C Henry Sims (RFA)
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
SG Jason Richardson
PF Thomas Robinson
PG Ish Smith
What They Did On Draft Night
Drafted Duke center Jahlil Okafor 3rd overall
Philadelphia stuck with their process and will probably reap the rewards of it. Even if Okafor doesn't ever play for Philadelphia, they are going to get a lot of value out of him one way or another. Let's say Joel Embiid is hypothetically trade, Okafor fits really well next to Nerlens Noel on the defensive end of the court at least. Noel is very mobile and disruptive defensively and will help to cover up Okafor's defensive shortcomings until he improves on that end. Offensively it is a little more questionable, at least until one of the pair improves their range offensively. If those are the two Philly rolls with, it will be up to them to find shooters are the other three positions in order to compensate. Still, it seems like that Okafor or Noel will be traded, unless Embiid's foot injury is really that bad. Trading Noel is intesesting, who has less years remaining on his contract than the other two but would likely return quite a haul because he has DPOY-like potential. Embiid and Okafor actually would fit pretty well together, it might be a little awkward at first, or at least until the correct pieces are surrounding them. Embiid has shown a mid-range game and has the agility to defend most power forwards. If that jump-shot becomes a reliable weapon, they could work a high-low, twin-towers offense with three other shooters on the floor to maximize space. This could be particularly effective because both Embiid and Okafor are very good passers. Whenever it happens, Philadelphia will likely be trading one of these three, all of which could fit together in a pair, with the correct system and teammates.
Drafted Bowling Green power forward Richaun Holmes 37th overall
At this point in their rebuild, Philadelphia is more about acquiring assets and good young players, not worrying about fit or roster construction right now. Therefore, drafting another big man (and even more later) is purely a matter of drafting the best available prospect. That said, Holmes actually fits decently with their other big men, because he can defend while also having a pretty effective face-up game. With Okafor, he can play out of the paint enough to provide space while also helping cover up some of the current deficiencies in Okafor's defense. Similarly, a Holmes/Noel, Holmes/Embiid frontline could be very hard to score against.
Drafted Lithuanian center Arturas Gudaitis 47th overall
Gudaitis is most likely just a trade asset to be stashed in Europe, but he can be an NBA player, which is more than you can say for many second round stash prospects. Gudaitis is a classic high energy backup big man that runs the floor, rebounds, and defends. He is a good athlete for his size and has potential to defend the pick-and-roll well. Offensively he is limited to finishing close to the basket, but is good at it. As a second rounder, Gudaitis will be inexpensive if he comes over in the next three years, making him valuable in a trade and a financially reasonable third center if Philadelphia keeps his rights.
Drafted North Carolina wing J.P. Tokoto 58th overall
Tokoto is a match made in NBA system heaven, fitting exactly what Philadelphia targets in wing players: length, athletic ability, defensive potential and a broken jumpshot. Okay, maybe they don't target that last part, but the fact remains they look to take advantage of an inefficiency by selecting players that are a jumper away from being above-average NBA players. This is smart because if it takes five second round picks, yet works out one of those times, they get a valuable NBA player at a low cost while not really increasing the flame out ratio of second rounders. The fact is, most second rounders don't make it, but by acquiring many of them without giving up much of value, it increases the chances you find a prospect or two that does become a rotation player, giving you an inexpensive contributor. Tokoto provides value in areas other than defense and shooting as well, he played point guard some in college and has very good vision and passing ability.
Drafted Serbian power forward Luka Mitrovic 60th overall
Another likely stash prospect, Luka Mitrovic will probably never see the NBA. He is actually decently skilled, but simply lacks the size to play power forward and the athletic ability to move to the wing.
What To Do Next?
What To Do Next?
I mean really, who knows? Philadelphia is somewhat held hostage by Embiid's foot, if they know he is going to be healthy next season, they can proceed to trade whomever of the three they wish. The uncertainty right now about his foot means they can't trade him at full value, while it also makes trading Noel or Okafor risky because if they trade one, and Embiid cannot ever become consistently healthy, they'll be left with just one big man. Still, if they are confident in Embiid's health, I would trade Noel. He is an awesome defensive player and a pleasure to watch, but he doesn't fit great at power forward and has the least years left on his rookie contract. Trading Noel to a team looking for a defensive center (Lakers? Celtics? Mavericks?) for a perimeter player like say Marcus Smart would begin to mold the roster into a more balanced structure while not giving up any youth or upside. Besides that, Philadelphia may poke around some of the younger free agents and put out some offer sheets, but it is unlikely this is the summer they push all their chips into the middle. More likely, they target some inexpensive flyers and attempt to resign Ish Smith to play point guard. Isaiah Canaan is a solid point as well, and his ability to shoot should fit well with Okafor, who should really be the one their offense plays through next season. A possible target is Spurs point guard Cory Joseph is a restricted free agent but San Antonio will likely have to let him go as they attempt to make space for LaMarcus Aldridge. Joseph has really stated to come into his own as a solid player and at just 23 would fit into Philadelphia's long term plans. If they can sign him to a reasonable deal, Joseph is the kind of undervalued player that Philadelphia should pounce on. Knicks free agent point guard Shane Larkin would be a less expensive free agent option at point guard, he fit poorly in the triangle and never got a chance in Dallas, but Larkin would fit well in Philadelphia's uptempo offense and can shoot well enough to help space the floor. He is an unrestricted free agent and even younger that Joseph at 22.
A bonus trade sure to never happen
Nerlens Noel to Atlanta for Dennis Schroder
OR
Noel to Lakers, Schroder to Philadelphia, Julius Randle to Atlanta
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