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TABLE TALK: 2025 Sixers Pre-Draft Analysis! · The Philadelphia Sports Table | Philly Sports News & Views

0:29
Speaker 1: Welcome to Table Talk here at the Philadelphia Sports Table
0:31
Speaker 1: podcast show, the longest running weekly Philly sports podcast show
0:35
Speaker 1: in the world, twelve years strong. We've got a great guest,
0:38
Speaker 1: a great discussion coming your way this week as it
0:41
Speaker 1: pertains the Philadelphia seventy six Ers and what their offseason
0:45
Speaker 1: has not only been like, but we've got the upcoming NFL, NFL,
0:48
Speaker 1: NBA Draft coming up and where this team is going
0:52
Speaker 1: to go in the future, how it may look this
0:54
Speaker 1: upcoming season. We've got from Libertyballers dot Com, great sp
0:58
Speaker 1: nation site. We love going there every day to see
1:01
Speaker 1: what's going on in terms of the content. We love
1:03
Speaker 1: our guest with us this week, we've got Harrison Grim. Buddy,
1:06
Speaker 1: how are you here?
1:08
Speaker 2: It's great speed Bank Cheff. It's always nice chopping up
1:11
Speaker 2: Sixers topics with yes special occasion coming up with the draft, obviously,
1:15
Speaker 2: the Sixers have a really high pick, a lot of
1:18
Speaker 2: anticipation going into it. Absolutely talk about so looking forward
1:22
Speaker 2: to our discussion here.
1:23
Speaker 1: Absolutely, I mean let's get right into it. Okay, you know,
1:26
Speaker 1: what should the Sixers do with that number three overall pick? Harrison,
1:31
Speaker 1: I mean, it's such a critical pick for the future
1:34
Speaker 1: of this team, where this organization goes. It's a critical
1:38
Speaker 1: pick for Darryl Morey. He cannot screw this one up.
1:41
Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting, and a lot of us
1:43
Speaker 1: thought it was interesting the night of the draft lottery
1:46
Speaker 1: when he puts his head down on the table, like,
1:48
Speaker 1: oh my gosh, thank god this happened. Oh my gosh,
1:51
Speaker 1: thank goodness that this happened. That we're drafting at number three.
1:56
Speaker 1: So I'm wondering, where do you think they just go
1:58
Speaker 1: from here in terms of this draft, and we're gonna
2:00
Speaker 1: dive into some prospects as well. Do they make a trade?
2:04
Speaker 1: Do you think there's gonna be an exciting rookie that
2:06
Speaker 1: ends up starting the season here? What should they do
2:10
Speaker 1: with that number three overall pick? In your opinion?
2:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, so i'd imagine. Well, first off, let me let
2:17
Speaker 2: me lay some context down for maybe some people who
2:20
Speaker 2: are casual with it or just catching back up, because
2:23
Speaker 2: I know some people have kind of tuned out this
2:24
Speaker 2: team for reasons. But the third pick is a really
2:28
Speaker 2: intriguing spot to be in this draft. The number one prospect,
2:31
Speaker 2: Cooper Flag, He's going to Dallas. You can all but
2:34
Speaker 2: pencil that in at this point Yep. The Spurs are
2:37
Speaker 2: widely expected to take Dylan Harber after that that may
2:42
Speaker 2: get traded to some team, or maybe they're just going
2:44
Speaker 2: to keep the pick and figure it out. Either way,
2:47
Speaker 2: I have a hard time seeing them select anyone that
2:50
Speaker 2: isn't Dylan Harber them or whoever ends up picking there.
2:53
Speaker 2: So yeah, really, the third pick is where a lot
2:56
Speaker 2: of stuff can happen, and I do think this are
3:00
Speaker 2: going to weigh their options. I saw a report from
3:02
Speaker 2: Kevin O'Connor right before I actually hopped on here that
3:06
Speaker 2: the New Orleans Pelicans are a team that really like
3:09
Speaker 2: Ace Bailey and might consider moving up to three to
3:12
Speaker 2: make sure they get him because right now they're at
3:14
Speaker 2: seven and he's probably not gonna make it there. Yeah,
3:17
Speaker 2: so I imagine the Sixers are going to look at trade
3:20
Speaker 2: down opportunities kind of because a lot of the prospects
3:24
Speaker 2: that are after Dylan Harper are on comparable levels. And
3:29
Speaker 2: when I say that, I mean Ace Bailey, he has
3:32
Speaker 2: the highest ceiling amongst this group. Then you've got guys
3:35
Speaker 2: like DJ Edgecombe kN Knoople, those guys who have a
3:40
Speaker 2: higher floor, maybe not necessarily the same ceiling, but they're
3:44
Speaker 2: more sure fire selections if you will. So when you
3:49
Speaker 2: have guys that are on a similar level, you should
3:52
Speaker 2: look at trade down opportunities. Maybe they can shed salary.
3:56
Speaker 2: I know fans love hearing me talk about that shedding salary,
4:01
Speaker 2: but that's a possibility. They might look for future draft
4:04
Speaker 2: demo because let's face it, we don't necessarily know what's
4:06
Speaker 2: going to happen with Joe LMB then the direction of
4:09
Speaker 2: this team moving forward, So it doesn't help or it
4:13
Speaker 2: does help building up your war chest to have those assets,
4:17
Speaker 2: whether you use them next season or beyond. But I
4:21
Speaker 2: am somewhat skeptical in if they are going to be
4:24
Speaker 2: able to do that. You don't historically see trades in
4:28
Speaker 2: the top six happen just because it's a pretty big
4:32
Speaker 2: gap to make up for both teams and discussions. I mean,
4:35
Speaker 2: from a Sixers point of view, you have a top
4:37
Speaker 2: three pick and you've got to get something in return
4:39
Speaker 2: if you're going to give that up and move down.
4:42
Speaker 2: And from the other team's perspective, like a lot of
4:45
Speaker 2: these prospects are considered on a similar, if not same level,
4:48
Speaker 2: So how much do you really want to give up
4:50
Speaker 2: to ensure that you get your guy? Yeah, and we'll
4:53
Speaker 2: see what happens. I don't think anything's going to happen
4:57
Speaker 2: in the near future or even ahead of the draft,
5:02
Speaker 2: but I do expect the Sixers to continue having those talks,
5:04
Speaker 2: especially if they do like a prospect that isn't necessarily
5:08
Speaker 2: slated to go three or even around three.
5:12
Speaker 1: So sorry, I'm sitting there taking a sip of my
5:15
Speaker 1: iced tea. Rate hears you're finishing your thought. But look,
5:18
Speaker 1: you know, we we've been hearing about Ace Bailey. We
5:22
Speaker 1: certainly have been hearing about VJ and what he could
5:26
Speaker 1: bring to the table.
5:27
Speaker 2: I guess.
5:28
Speaker 1: I guess the concern with VJ is that it's hard
5:33
Speaker 1: to make the case that he is a force of
5:35
Speaker 1: nature athlete while ignoring that he can't always leverage that
5:39
Speaker 1: as an offensive player. You know, he's got an excellent
5:42
Speaker 1: first step, more of an advantage creation tool type of
5:46
Speaker 1: thing than a lead ball handler. So I wonder how
5:50
Speaker 1: in terms of you know, you're talking about a lot
5:52
Speaker 1: of these guys on the same plane here as we're
5:55
Speaker 1: looking at the talent and what that number three talent
5:58
Speaker 1: should be. I I just don't know what. I feel
6:02
Speaker 1: like I've dove into it so much with a lot
6:04
Speaker 1: of these prospects that I don't know what to think anymore.
6:07
Speaker 1: If it's Ace Bailey, if it's VJ, Like, does VJ
6:11
Speaker 1: actually have more of a step above Ace Bailey at
6:16
Speaker 1: this point? And quite frankly, like I'm looking at like
6:18
Speaker 1: Derek Queen as well, like and if whether or not
6:22
Speaker 1: he would have a position and be able to be
6:25
Speaker 1: that number three overall pick that's really gonna shine, you know,
6:29
Speaker 1: in the foreseeable future. I don't know, Like I'm really
6:32
Speaker 1: all over the place in terms of these guys. Let's
6:34
Speaker 1: break some of them down, if that's cool with you.
6:37
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think we should start off with Ace
6:39
Speaker 2: Bailey because that is the name that seems to be
6:41
Speaker 2: the early favorite. Obviously, when the Sixers found out where
6:44
Speaker 2: they were picking, everyone jumped on the train. I was like,
6:47
Speaker 2: all right, Ace Bailey is the number three guy. They
6:49
Speaker 2: need a wing like pencil it in, and it's like,
6:51
Speaker 2: you know, not so fast, right, right, There's some stuff
6:54
Speaker 2: to consider with Ace. I think a lot of people
6:58
Speaker 2: see his upside in Ceiling, which is arguably the second
7:02
Speaker 2: best in the draft, probably behind Cooper Flag. And I'm
7:06
Speaker 2: not going to sit here and tell you otherwise, I
7:08
Speaker 2: do think he has an incredibly high ceiling. Everybody can
7:12
Speaker 2: use a six to seven plus shot maker in today's NBA,
7:16
Speaker 2: and he also does some other stuff well. But the
7:20
Speaker 2: idea of what Ace Bailey could be and what he
7:24
Speaker 2: actually is, I think is where a lot of people
7:27
Speaker 2: get confused. OK, And this is a prospect that's going
7:30
Speaker 2: to need some time. He's going to need a year
7:32
Speaker 2: or two to really find his footing in the NBA.
7:35
Speaker 2: He's going to need to put on weight, his handle
7:39
Speaker 2: is going to need some pretty big work. And that's
7:43
Speaker 2: where a situation like the Sixers might actually be intriguing
7:46
Speaker 2: in the sense that he could come in he doesn't
7:49
Speaker 2: necessarily have to make a bunch of crazy shots carry
7:52
Speaker 2: the offense, and I will say that is incredibly compelling.
7:57
Speaker 2: That being said, there are red flags and can just
8:00
Speaker 2: like with any prospect, and he has quite a few.
8:03
Speaker 2: Everybody talks about the passing aspect or lack thereof, and
8:09
Speaker 2: watching film of him, I think it was just not
8:12
Speaker 2: a great system all in all that being said, he's
8:17
Speaker 2: definitely going to need to improve on his passing, his
8:19
Speaker 2: decision making, and the part where I really get lost
8:25
Speaker 2: with Ace Bailey's Everybody talks about him like being a
8:27
Speaker 2: shot maker, and yes he can hit contested shots, Yes
8:30
Speaker 2: he can catch fire, but he's not necessarily really able
8:34
Speaker 2: to do that consistently. And a simple look at his
8:38
Speaker 2: box scores just games a game, you really see some
8:42
Speaker 2: heavy fluctuation. And of course you're going to see that.
8:44
Speaker 2: Like he's one of the younger guys in this draft.
8:46
Speaker 2: I'm not trying to rag on them too hard, right,
8:49
Speaker 2: but you start running into some issues where you got
8:53
Speaker 2: a guy that specializes in shot making, and even that's
8:57
Speaker 2: a little bit shaky, so you look at all, right, well,
8:59
Speaker 2: what else can you do? The main thing would be rebounding.
9:02
Speaker 2: He is a good rebounder for her size, and that's
9:05
Speaker 2: why I personally have him above like someone like Trey
9:08
Speaker 2: Johnson on my board, who doesn't necessarily offer anything outside
9:11
Speaker 2: of shooting and shot making. Once you get past the
9:15
Speaker 2: rebounding part, there isn't that much. He's shown some flashes
9:18
Speaker 2: on the defensive end as a help side blocker and defender,
9:22
Speaker 2: and sure, maybe you can kind of critique that, but
9:25
Speaker 2: at this point the list is getting kind of long,
9:28
Speaker 2: and we're not necessarily talking about one thing or one
9:31
Speaker 2: area that I needs to improve on to reach his ceiling,
9:34
Speaker 2: but several things, and that's what really makes me doubt
9:38
Speaker 2: him really fulfilling his upside as. Like like people people
9:43
Speaker 2: have called him Kevin Durant, the next Kevin Durant, the
9:46
Speaker 2: next Paul George, and a lot has to go right, A.
9:50
Speaker 1: Lot, yeah, like perfection.
9:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, And even when you compare Ace Bailey as a
9:57
Speaker 2: prospect to someone like Kevin Durant as a prosper, like,
10:00
Speaker 2: the golf is so massive. And that's where I really
10:04
Speaker 2: take exception because if the Sixers do draft him, and
10:06
Speaker 2: that's a big if. Uh, If they do draft him,
10:09
Speaker 2: people are gonna have this concept of like young Kevin
10:13
Speaker 2: duran or young you know, Paul George, and it's just
10:18
Speaker 2: not very accurate and not what you can expect from
10:21
Speaker 2: Ace Bailey in year one. And that's why I like
10:24
Speaker 2: some of the other options on the board, such as
10:26
Speaker 2: like VJ. Edgecombe or con Canoopole over him. Yeah.
10:29
Speaker 1: I think it's interesting with VJ too. You mentioned something
10:31
Speaker 1: about Ace Bailey that I think we can actually say
10:34
Speaker 1: about VJ as well, because it seems like Baylor never
10:37
Speaker 1: quite figured out what to do with him at times
10:40
Speaker 1: on a game to game basis, which we kind of saw,
10:42
Speaker 1: you know, with Ace Bailey as well during his you know,
10:45
Speaker 1: short collegiate career there. And I think there's a related
10:48
Speaker 1: conversation we can keep coming back to as we in
10:52
Speaker 1: closer to this draft is like, what does his NBA
10:56
Speaker 1: role look like long term?
10:59
Speaker 2: You know?
10:59
Speaker 1: So like that that's like the question that I actually
11:01
Speaker 1: have when I'm looking at DJ, Like what are you
11:04
Speaker 1: thinking here?
11:05
Speaker 2: Yeah, So he's a really intriguing player for those who
11:08
Speaker 2: don't know, he's kind of been a late bloomer in
11:11
Speaker 2: the basketball world. He's still kind of developing a feel
11:15
Speaker 2: for basketball, and some of his numbers, his advanced metrics
11:18
Speaker 2: kind of reflect that. But man, physically, there's so much
11:22
Speaker 2: to like about him. He's arguably the most athletic player
11:25
Speaker 2: in this draft. He has an NBA ready frame. He's
11:28
Speaker 2: going to be able to come in Day one and
11:30
Speaker 2: not just be a good defender, but I think he
11:32
Speaker 2: can be a great defender. He has a good defensive feel.
11:36
Speaker 2: He's tremendous playing in the passing lanes. He's a tremendous
11:42
Speaker 2: He's tremendous at getting steals and for a guard even
11:45
Speaker 2: He's really good at getting blocks. I want to say,
11:48
Speaker 2: you had like twenty blocks and thirty three games for
11:50
Speaker 2: Baylor or something like that. So you're talking about a
11:52
Speaker 2: guy who knows how to play defense. It's really shoring
11:57
Speaker 2: up those offensive deficients and kind of the stuff that
12:01
Speaker 2: comes with being a late developmental project in the basketball
12:06
Speaker 2: world like Bailey. I would argue edge Cones handle is
12:10
Speaker 2: better than Bailey's right now, but that being said, he's
12:13
Speaker 2: going to need to tighten it up, and also just
12:16
Speaker 2: shooting consistency. He has good form. He's a good catch
12:19
Speaker 2: and shooter, but when he goes off the dribble or
12:23
Speaker 2: kind of takes out off balance shot, his form gets
12:26
Speaker 2: a little bit wonky. I think those are things you
12:28
Speaker 2: can fix now. Going back to the initial question at hand,
12:31
Speaker 2: what is VJ. Edgecum A lot of teams are asking
12:34
Speaker 2: that right now. At Baylor, he kind of played a
12:38
Speaker 2: bit as a guard. For those who don't know, he
12:41
Speaker 2: has a six' five frame with a pretty good. WINGSPAN
12:44
Speaker 2: i want to say he's like six six sixty, seven
12:46
Speaker 2: so you're talking about a bigger. GUARD i think at
12:50
Speaker 2: THE nba level he's going to project mostly as a
12:52
Speaker 2: two and maybe you can squeeze him in as a,
12:54
Speaker 2: three especially if he continues to. Grow he is a good.
12:59
Speaker 2: PLAYMATE i will say he has good, passing but that's
13:03
Speaker 2: another area where he's going to need to continue working
13:06
Speaker 2: to really reach his. Ceiling but the playmaking vision is.
13:10
Speaker 2: There he makes good. Reads LIKE i, said he can
13:13
Speaker 2: dribble the basketball a little, bit SO i don't think
13:15
Speaker 2: he'll necessarily be like a late blooming point guard, type
13:20
Speaker 2: BUT i do think that being, said he can be
13:23
Speaker 2: a very good wing kind of similar to What Quentin
13:27
Speaker 2: grinds was last year with The.
13:28
Speaker 1: Sixers, yeah it's really going to be interesting to see
13:31
Speaker 1: how this really all shakes. Out and, folks if you
13:34
Speaker 1: are watching us for the first, time here follow us
13:37
Speaker 1: on social. Media here are social media. Sites if you
13:41
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13:44
Speaker 1: On twitter At Philadelphia Sports I'm, sorry At philadelphia, Pst
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Speaker 1: instagram At Philadelphia Sports, table search Out eric and, myself
13:53
Speaker 1: and of, course search out our good friend, Here harrison
13:56
Speaker 1: grim At Harrison underscore grim over on The twitter slash
14:01
Speaker 1: x are you On Blue?
14:01
Speaker 2: Sky you on?
14:02
Speaker 1: THREADS i think i Think i've seen, you, right. Dude
14:04
Speaker 1: where everybody's, everywhere AND i just can't remember everything right.
14:07
Speaker 2: Now oh, Yeah i'm over on the. Sky you can catch.
14:10
Speaker 1: Me nice sounds? Good sounds. Good, well as we are
14:15
Speaker 1: moving along, here my, FRIEND i really want to get
14:18
Speaker 1: into What Daryl moury's legacy is going to be in
14:21
Speaker 1: terms of the draft for The, sixers not necessarily free,
14:25
Speaker 1: agency BUT i think it's A i think it's an
14:29
Speaker 1: interesting theme to talk about in terms of what that
14:32
Speaker 1: legacy is going to, be, because as we KNOW nba,
14:35
Speaker 1: drafts they're never a sure, thing you, know when you're
14:38
Speaker 1: drafting young, players unless your name Is Lebron james Or
14:41
Speaker 1: Zion williamson or. Something you. Know sometimes gms well think
14:45
Speaker 1: a player is going to be able to perform a certain,
14:47
Speaker 1: way help a team out a certain, capacity and it
14:50
Speaker 1: just doesn't pan. Out we see this all the time
14:52
Speaker 1: throughout THE. Nba we've certainly seen it In philadelphia. Before
14:55
Speaker 1: it's just it's not a simple. Task when it comes
14:59
Speaker 1: To Daryl, morey his tenure, Here harrison AS gm The
15:02
Speaker 1: sixers team and, organization what do you think his legacy
15:06
Speaker 1: is going to be when it comes to drafting players
15:08
Speaker 1: for This sixers. Team when it's all said and. Done
15:10
Speaker 1: what are your, Thoughts.
15:12
Speaker 2: YEAH i mean that's a great. QUESTION i think if
15:15
Speaker 2: you just look at what they've done so, FAR i
15:17
Speaker 2: think their scouting department Under darryl has done a tremendous
15:20
Speaker 2: job if you just go on a drafted draft, basis
15:23
Speaker 2: where in pretty much all drafts they've been drafting outside
15:26
Speaker 2: the lottery or in the second, round they've found really
15:29
Speaker 2: capable of. Players his first year obviously was the max.
15:33
Speaker 2: Year they got him at twenty. One, yeah also Drafted
15:35
Speaker 2: Isaiah joe who was a good, pick didn't stick, around
15:38
Speaker 2: but was a good pick in, hindsight even in the
15:42
Speaker 2: super late second. Round Paul, reid while he's not on
15:46
Speaker 2: the team, anymore he's still in THE, nba and that's
15:49
Speaker 2: not necessarily the case for a lot of guys taken
15:51
Speaker 2: in the late second. Round and even if you go beyond.
15:54
Speaker 2: That last season With jared McCain and a Dem bona
15:59
Speaker 2: And edwards as an undrafted free, agent The sixers have
16:03
Speaker 2: done a tremendous job at getting guys who present good
16:08
Speaker 2: value at not high. Picks there's only really been one,
16:12
Speaker 2: miss and that was The Jane springer year and picking
16:15
Speaker 2: at the end of the first round is hard one and.
16:18
Speaker 2: Two at the, time he was viewed as one of
16:20
Speaker 2: the best guys on the, Board SO i give them
16:22
Speaker 2: a pass for. That you can't only shoot a hundred
16:24
Speaker 2: when it comes to. Scouting when it comes to his,
16:27
Speaker 2: LEGACY i think a lot of it is going to
16:29
Speaker 2: be defined by this coming pick that you're going to
16:32
Speaker 2: see in a few, weeks the third overall. Pick there's
16:35
Speaker 2: a lot going into. This this is the highest Pick
16:39
Speaker 2: Daryl morey has ever had in his, career not just
16:42
Speaker 2: with The, sixers but also with The Houston, rockets and
16:45
Speaker 2: this is a pick that's going to define a lot of.
16:47
Speaker 2: Things first, off, like we don't know again what's going
16:52
Speaker 2: on With Joel, Embiid so whether they're drafting, someone they've
16:57
Speaker 2: been pretty adamant that they're just going to say whoever
16:59
Speaker 2: they think is the best place, available WHICH i generally agree.
17:02
Speaker 2: With but you're going to be picking for someone that
17:06
Speaker 2: theoretically can come in step up and help in some,
17:11
Speaker 2: way shape or form for this next upcoming, season presumably
17:15
Speaker 2: With Joel embiid And Paul. George, yeah and also maybe
17:21
Speaker 2: potentially become a cornerstone long term moving, forward whether that's With,
17:25
Speaker 2: embid whether that's Without. Embiid SO i think this pick
17:29
Speaker 2: is going to make or Break darryl Six ers ten.
17:32
Speaker 2: Year it could be a life saving grace for a
17:37
Speaker 2: team with an aging. Core it could be a turning
17:41
Speaker 2: point the end Of sixers era, basketball if you. Will
17:46
Speaker 2: With Joel. Embiid there's a lot of directions it can,
17:49
Speaker 2: go and it really just all comes down to this.
17:52
Speaker 2: Pick and like you, said they really need to hit
17:54
Speaker 2: on this. Pick whether or Not joel embie is a
17:57
Speaker 2: factor moving.
17:58
Speaker 1: Forward, absolutely that's a great way to end things before
18:02
Speaker 1: you have to take a really quick break. Here when
18:03
Speaker 1: we get, back we're going to be Discussing Joel embiid
18:06
Speaker 1: in more. Detail Tyrese, Maxey jared McCain Stick around will
18:10
Speaker 1: be back in just a. Bit all, right we are
18:13
Speaker 1: back again With Harrison grim From libertyballers Dot com At
18:17
Speaker 1: Harrison Underscore grim on The twitter slash x and over
18:20
Speaker 1: At Blue. Sky and as we're moving along with a conversation, here,
18:24
Speaker 1: buddy we've got to get Into Joel. Embiid we have.
18:27
Speaker 1: TO i, mean, like it's just you can't talk about
18:30
Speaker 1: the future of The philadelphia seventy six ers without talking
18:33
Speaker 1: About Joel. Embiid he is the face of this, franchise
18:37
Speaker 1: also the face of, injury not just for The philadelphia
18:40
Speaker 1: seventy six, ers but in THE nba in. GENERAL i,
18:43
Speaker 1: mean when we look at where his career goes from,
18:47
Speaker 1: here what do you think that that looks?
18:50
Speaker 2: Like?
18:50
Speaker 1: HARRISON i, mean there could be so many different DIRECTIONS
18:53
Speaker 1: i think here that he could be. Taking he of
18:56
Speaker 1: course wants a. Championship he wants to bring a championship
18:59
Speaker 1: to Philadelph that's the goal for. Everybody and, again he
19:03
Speaker 1: is the face of this, franchise at least for, now
19:07
Speaker 1: for now. Here what what do you think is happening
19:10
Speaker 1: with him and what may happen with him in the
19:13
Speaker 1: future of my?
19:13
Speaker 2: Friend, YEAH i mean that's the million dollar. Questions yeah you.
19:17
Speaker 2: Can you can ask me twenty questions and they ultimately
19:20
Speaker 2: all trace back To Joel Embiid and they don't matter
19:23
Speaker 2: if IF mb isn't able to suit. Up so in
19:28
Speaker 2: terms of where his career could, GO i mean an ideal,
19:31
Speaker 2: world he gets the knee thing managed and they're able
19:36
Speaker 2: To it's tough because we hate being.
19:41
Speaker 1: Optimistic let's let's be. HONEST i, mean it's so like
19:45
Speaker 1: it's been year after year after year after, year optimism
19:49
Speaker 1: oozing out of all of us as. Fans but we
19:52
Speaker 1: know where he is in terms of his. Health oh my,
19:56
Speaker 1: gosh it drives me, Crazy.
19:57
Speaker 2: Harrison, yeah and especially like you're dealing with a knee,
20:01
Speaker 2: injury and knee injuries can be really, tricky as we
20:05
Speaker 2: all saw playout last. Season so in an ideal, world
20:09
Speaker 2: he's able to come back and be seventy five to
20:12
Speaker 2: eighty percent of what we saw during the hardenless year
20:16
Speaker 2: where he was averaging like thirty five on ridiculous. Efficiency
20:19
Speaker 2: they don't The sixers don't even necessarily need that version of.
20:22
Speaker 2: Him they really just need a seventy five to eighty
20:25
Speaker 2: percent version of, that which is a Borderline ALL nba,
20:28
Speaker 2: Player All, star and there's some reason to believe he
20:32
Speaker 2: can get back to that. Point the doctor who did
20:35
Speaker 2: this knee surgery was the same one who worked On,
20:37
Speaker 2: kawhi and while while The clippers kind of took a
20:41
Speaker 2: different route to Managing kawhi in his injury or, injuries
20:45
Speaker 2: he was still able to go out in THE nba
20:48
Speaker 2: postseason when it mattered and produced for his. Team there
20:51
Speaker 2: was ups and, downs certainly but it looked Like Kawhi
20:54
Speaker 2: leonard and that's a pretty big, win especially for how
20:57
Speaker 2: murky that situation. Was obviously The Joel andbi thing is quite,
21:02
Speaker 2: murky and it's quite a different situation given his size
21:07
Speaker 2: and kind of history when it comes to. Injuries so
21:10
Speaker 2: in an ideal, world that's what we. See but at
21:15
Speaker 2: the same, time like you, said we have to be
21:17
Speaker 2: realistic and what happens If joel's knee isn't good to,
21:21
Speaker 2: go and you, know we'll let that play. OUT i
21:25
Speaker 2: don't want to make any. Presumptions you, know we'll just
21:28
Speaker 2: see what. Happens but if things don't necessarily pan, out
21:33
Speaker 2: The sixers are going to be in a really tough
21:35
Speaker 2: spot Because joel is locked into a long term. Salary
21:38
Speaker 2: at that, point the windows probably shut on a. TRADE
21:41
Speaker 2: i can't imagine a team would be willing to give
21:44
Speaker 2: up a ton to take on that, contract if anything at.
21:47
Speaker 2: All so there's multiple ways this could. Go but again
21:52
Speaker 2: it's the question that we have to keep coming back,
21:54
Speaker 2: to and we're going to continue coming back to until you,
21:57
Speaker 2: Know october and the season comes.
21:58
Speaker 1: Back if there's any way that the team doctors can
22:01
Speaker 1: just put like metal rods into his like, knees going
22:05
Speaker 1: down into his shins and up into his. QUADS i
22:08
Speaker 1: think that would be. FANTASTIC i, Mean i'm not sure
22:10
Speaker 1: why it hasn't been thought of, yet BUT i would
22:12
Speaker 1: love that type of medical initiative to come with regard
22:17
Speaker 1: To Joel. Embiid but moving. Along next up Is Tyrese maxi, Here,
22:22
Speaker 1: Harrison we've loved watching him develop over the. Years really
22:27
Speaker 1: has been a player who continues to exceed expectations in
22:30
Speaker 1: so many different. Ways where do you see Tyress maxie's
22:33
Speaker 1: trajectory at this point in his? Career and even like
22:36
Speaker 1: the pressure based on our you, know the past topic
22:40
Speaker 1: we talked about here With Joel, embiid the pressure that's
22:43
Speaker 1: inevitably and possibly going to be on him at some
22:47
Speaker 1: point down the, road where do you see Tyres maxey's
22:49
Speaker 1: career trajectory going at this?
22:51
Speaker 2: Point, yeah, SO i think that's a great. Question last
22:55
Speaker 2: season was a really weird, year mainly because them bed. Stuff.
22:58
Speaker 2: Yep maxi kind of struggled with efficiency at certain, parts
23:02
Speaker 2: mainly at the beginning of the. Year he also struggled
23:04
Speaker 2: towards the end of the. Year BUT i kind of
23:06
Speaker 2: give him a pass for that because at that point
23:09
Speaker 2: he was dealing with the thumb, thing he was also
23:11
Speaker 2: DEALING i think with other, stuff so it definitely affected his.
23:15
Speaker 2: Efficiency but that being, said max he was playing some
23:19
Speaker 2: really great basketball at the peak of last season where
23:22
Speaker 2: he was really carrying this. Team he was being the
23:26
Speaker 2: sole offensive, initiator which is a big ask being the
23:29
Speaker 2: number one guy team's defensively scheme, against and he wasn't
23:34
Speaker 2: only doing well with, it he was thriving at. It
23:37
Speaker 2: and that's really what you want to see From, maxie
23:40
Speaker 2: especially being his age at ROUGHLY i think twenty five years,
23:44
Speaker 2: old and also defensively last, SEASON i thought he took
23:48
Speaker 2: a pretty big step forward that kind of got lost
23:51
Speaker 2: because people tune the team out that really wasn't winning,
23:54
Speaker 2: basketball but he did make noticeable strides. Defensively that's a big,
24:00
Speaker 2: deal especially when you're talking about a Potential maxie McCain.
24:03
Speaker 2: Backcourt in terms of his trajectory moving, FORWARD i think
24:07
Speaker 2: you're talking about a Perennial All. STAR i think he
24:10
Speaker 2: will be An All star again as The sixers can
24:13
Speaker 2: hopefully rack up wins next, season right AND i think
24:18
Speaker 2: you'll even see him in Some ALL nba. COMBOS i
24:22
Speaker 2: really think he was that good last. Year, obviously The
24:25
Speaker 2: sixers weren't really playing winning, basketball no one was really
24:28
Speaker 2: paying attention to, it so he really didn't get that.
24:30
Speaker 2: Shine BUT i expect his efficiency to pick back up next,
24:34
Speaker 2: season Whether joel is on the court or. NOT i
24:37
Speaker 2: do think his numbers are going to look a lot.
24:39
Speaker 2: Better and when he has efficiency and, wins you're talking
24:42
Speaker 2: about a very strong case for not Just All, star
24:45
Speaker 2: But ALL. Nba SO i thought it was tremendous last.
24:48
Speaker 2: SEASON i thought he did a lot of things THAT
24:50
Speaker 2: i wanted to see him, do And i'm very optimistic
24:54
Speaker 2: about him moving.
24:55
Speaker 1: Forward, absolutely we all should be optimistic About TYRES maxi
24:58
Speaker 1: AND i think we're also good to be optimistic about
25:01
Speaker 1: Where jared McCain's career goes from, here because you, know
25:06
Speaker 1: he's one of those guys Who morey. Drafted that was
25:09
Speaker 1: kind of LIKE i think some of, us And i'll be,
25:12
Speaker 1: honest was kind of like he was a kind of
25:14
Speaker 1: A meh type of. Player, INITIALLY i think a lot of,
25:18
Speaker 1: again a lot of the fan base kind of thought,
25:19
Speaker 1: that but then my, gosh we saw some unbelievable Skills
25:22
Speaker 1: once he got onto the, court we saw some unbelievable
25:25
Speaker 1: basketball being played by. Him once he is, Healthy harrison
25:30
Speaker 1: and he's able to get back on the, court where
25:32
Speaker 1: do you see his career.
25:33
Speaker 2: Going, Yeah AND i was kind of in the same
25:36
Speaker 2: boat where INITIALLY i was, like, eh LIKE i like the,
25:39
Speaker 2: PICK i don't love it right at the. Time if you,
25:42
Speaker 2: Remember Dalton connect was falling in that draft AND i was, like,
25:45
Speaker 2: oh just take him WHO i had top ten on my,
25:48
Speaker 2: Board but thankfully they. Didn't and, again, like that's why
25:53
Speaker 2: whenever The sixers make their pick for this, draft whether
25:56
Speaker 2: it's at three or anywhere, ELSE i think they deserve
25:58
Speaker 2: the benefit of the. Doubt, ye because that was something
26:02
Speaker 2: where they easily could just take In dults And. Connect
26:04
Speaker 2: everyone had him at the top of their boards at
26:06
Speaker 2: that point and nobody would have said a, word but they.
26:09
Speaker 2: Didn't and, Man jared, McCain i'm very excited to see
26:13
Speaker 2: him back on the. COURT i got a chance to
26:16
Speaker 2: see him actually at the beginning of the last season
26:18
Speaker 2: when they visited In, orlando and he is a tremendous
26:22
Speaker 2: player to watch in. Person that shot is just, fluid.
26:25
Speaker 2: Repeatable it's a bucket every time and it really has
26:29
Speaker 2: me excited for what he could potentially be on a
26:32
Speaker 2: roster that's actually trying to win and can hopefully develop some.
26:36
Speaker 2: CHEMISTRY i think going into next, season he's going to
26:39
Speaker 2: be in a role that some people might disagree. WITH
26:43
Speaker 2: i think projected he'll probably be the sixth, man and
26:47
Speaker 2: everyone hears that it's, like oh my, god you should,
26:49
Speaker 2: Start and let's face, it like he's going to be
26:52
Speaker 2: finishing some. Games that's just what six men. Do like
26:55
Speaker 2: six men play start borderline starter, minutes they just don't.
26:59
Speaker 2: Start it's really just a fancy. Label but that being,
27:03
Speaker 2: said Like jared McCain as a six man that can
27:06
Speaker 2: come in and summon For maxie Or Quain, Grimes like
27:11
Speaker 2: think about, that you're gonna have one Of, Tyrese maxey
27:15
Speaker 2: Or jared McCain on the court at all times, Presumably
27:18
Speaker 2: and that's a lot of shot. Making that's a lot of,
27:20
Speaker 2: shooting AND i think even. Playmaking maxie's developed into a capable.
27:24
Speaker 2: Playmaker jared McCain might be a better playmaker than you
27:27
Speaker 2: OR i even realized you had a tennis's game last
27:31
Speaker 2: season where you really flashed that. Skill but, man like
27:35
Speaker 2: If jared McCain is playing just like he did last
27:38
Speaker 2: year or even, better it's gonna be a tough problem
27:42
Speaker 2: for The sixers to navigate if you've got a guy
27:44
Speaker 2: that is that good Who let's, say if he's averaging
27:48
Speaker 2: twenty a, game he should probably be starting and you
27:51
Speaker 2: can figure out the defensive stuff. Later but it will
27:54
Speaker 2: be a good problem for The sixers to have if
27:56
Speaker 2: eventually they got to figure out, like, okay like how
27:59
Speaker 2: do we Start maxie and McCain. Together you, know we'll.
28:02
Speaker 2: See BUT i think next, season with the projected starting
28:06
Speaker 2: lineup OF, Mb George, Someone, grimes And, MAXIE i just
28:13
Speaker 2: think he's kind of the odd man out in that.
28:16
Speaker 2: WAY i Think Nick nurse Trust quinning grinds a. LOT
28:18
Speaker 2: i think maybe you can even Get quinning grins on
28:21
Speaker 2: the discounted role if you promise him a starting. Spot
28:24
Speaker 2: and just from a natural, STANDPOINT i Think grimes is
28:27
Speaker 2: the best fit next TO maxi as an off ball.
28:30
Speaker 2: Guy and obviously you can Play grimes with McCain Or
28:33
Speaker 2: i'm sure The sixers will try playing all three of
28:35
Speaker 2: those guys at the same time at a certain. Point
28:38
Speaker 2: but how can you not be optimistic About jay. McCain
28:43
Speaker 2: i was someone he was second on my board at
28:45
Speaker 2: the time when they took, HIM i certainly did not
28:49
Speaker 2: expect WHAT i saw from him year. One he looked
28:52
Speaker 2: like a vet out. There it looked like it WAS
28:54
Speaker 2: i hate using this word because it's just lofty and,
28:59
Speaker 2: unreasonable but it was Really Steph curry asking some moments
29:03
Speaker 2: where it looked like a guy who was just playing
29:05
Speaker 2: at his own, pace shooting in the, driveway just like
29:09
Speaker 2: that's not something you see from young guards. Often, yeah
29:12
Speaker 2: and we didn't just see glimpses of that From jerry.
29:15
Speaker 2: McCain he looked like that more times than not when
29:18
Speaker 2: he was out on the. Court, so whether it's as
29:21
Speaker 2: a six man or a, STARTER i think the Sixer
29:25
Speaker 2: sixers fans have a lot to be excited about with.
29:27
Speaker 1: HIM i gotta tell, you, buddy we're losing a little
29:29
Speaker 1: too much optimism. HERE i THINK i don't, KNOW i
29:32
Speaker 1: think we're louising too much of it here at this
29:34
Speaker 1: point given what this team was this past. Year but
29:36
Speaker 1: at the end of the, day it all comes down to.
29:38
Speaker 1: Health it all comes down to health for where this
29:40
Speaker 1: team is going to. Go, again talking About Joe el
29:43
Speaker 1: embiid What maxi's gonna, do what other contributors on this
29:46
Speaker 1: team are going to. Do BUT i think the fan
29:48
Speaker 1: base in, general as we're you, know closing up our discussion, Here,
29:52
Speaker 1: HARRISON i think That sixers fans in, general they want
29:55
Speaker 1: to see some type of movement By Daryl morian by
29:58
Speaker 1: the front. Office SO i, mean assuming all the all
30:02
Speaker 1: the you, know player option guys decide to opt In Kelly,
30:06
Speaker 1: ubray you, Know Drumming, gordon who do you see likely
30:10
Speaker 1: getting traded this? Offseason if anybody it? WOULD i personally
30:14
Speaker 1: think it seems Like Kelly ubray might be the most
30:18
Speaker 1: or have the most trade value as we're heading into
30:21
Speaker 1: the summer. Here but you, know what are your thoughts
30:23
Speaker 1: on who may actually be traded this offseason?
30:26
Speaker 2: Here, yeah so that's a great. Question so all the
30:29
Speaker 2: player option guys Are Kelly, ubray as you, Mentioned Andre,
30:33
Speaker 2: drummond And Eric. Gordon all of them are at different salary.
30:36
Speaker 2: NUMBERS i want to Say kelly's at like roughly eightish.
30:38
Speaker 2: MILLION i know drum has his around five, million and
30:43
Speaker 2: Then gordon is slightly above a minimum at like roughly three.
30:46
Speaker 2: Million so all different, salaries, Right AND i think it's
30:53
Speaker 2: going to be a really intriguing thing to watch with
30:56
Speaker 2: at least two of those, guys that Being uber And,
30:59
Speaker 2: drummond the guy with the most salary in that. Group
31:02
Speaker 2: because The, sixers they're gonna need to do. Something and
31:06
Speaker 2: WHAT i mean by that is they've been adamant that
31:10
Speaker 2: they want to keep and are going to Keep Quainton,
31:12
Speaker 2: grimes which they can do with the team currently as,
31:15
Speaker 2: constructed with even all those guys opting, in they can afford.
31:19
Speaker 2: Him what really gets kind of tricky, then is Paying
31:23
Speaker 2: Gershan Yabou, sallet which he's probably projected to get like
31:28
Speaker 2: taxpayer mid level money at like six. Million let's, say,
31:32
Speaker 2: yeah it gets more cumbersome to not just Keep Yaboo,
31:37
Speaker 2: sallet but also keep your flexibility underneath that second. Apron
31:41
Speaker 2: and that's WHY i think you are going to see
31:44
Speaker 2: at least one deal with one of those three, guys
31:47
Speaker 2: whether It's uber And drumming going somewhere or Just drumming going.
31:53
Speaker 2: Somewhere we did An ncason questionnaire over At Liberty ballers
31:57
Speaker 2: and one of the questions was what transaction do you
32:00
Speaker 2: want to See daryl make this? Offseason and my answer
32:03
Speaker 2: was moving off Of Andre. Drummond i'd like to see
32:06
Speaker 2: him move. Him didn't look like himself all of last. Year,
32:10
Speaker 2: yes there was a nagging tow, injury AND i don't
32:13
Speaker 2: want to disregard that Because i'm sure that was painful
32:16
Speaker 2: to play. Through but he set to make five million next,
32:19
Speaker 2: season and you got a guy Like Adam bona behind
32:23
Speaker 2: him who really showed me a lot during those tanking.
32:27
Speaker 2: Games and, really that's the ENERGY i want to see
32:31
Speaker 2: from a young. GUY i want to see a young
32:33
Speaker 2: guy go out, there, hustle lock, shots look like he
32:36
Speaker 2: actually cares about the, game even when they're. Losing and
32:39
Speaker 2: he did that. Consistently he looked more polished in moments
32:43
Speaker 2: THAN i ever thought he would in year. ONE i
32:46
Speaker 2: think The sixers have a lot to look forward to,
32:48
Speaker 2: him AND i just when you got a guy Like
32:51
Speaker 2: bona who really showed you a lot in my, opinion
32:55
Speaker 2: and you got a guy With drummond who's earning five
32:58
Speaker 2: million presumable next, season you, know on the tail end
33:04
Speaker 2: twilight years of his. Career it's just like, like if
33:07
Speaker 2: you're not gonna be an elite, backup an elite minutes,
33:11
Speaker 2: eater if you will essentially what they brought him into.
33:13
Speaker 2: Do it's just dead money at that, Point SO i
33:17
Speaker 2: could see a world where maybe they Keep drumming. Around
33:19
Speaker 2: it doesn't hurt necessarily having him. Around but that being,
33:24
Speaker 2: said moving off A drummonds contract alone would free up
33:29
Speaker 2: a lot of space to Retain quentin Grind Offer yabucele something.
33:34
Speaker 2: Competitive so it really comes down to their faith in
33:38
Speaker 2: a Dem. Bona and there's other frameworks where you can
33:41
Speaker 2: Package ubrain, Drumming like the popular one right now is
33:44
Speaker 2: the third overall Pick Oubra drummond for number seven And Herb.
33:48
Speaker 2: Jones maybe you can package those two guys together and
33:52
Speaker 2: get a meaningful two way. Player, yeah so there's a
33:56
Speaker 2: lot of avenues that can take with. THAT i think
33:58
Speaker 2: you can pencil in at least one of those guys getting.
34:01
Speaker 2: Moved i'm not entirely sure, who but there's a lot
34:04
Speaker 2: of reasons for The sixers to really not keep those.
34:07
Speaker 2: Three IF i had to pick one THAT i would
34:10
Speaker 2: expect them to, keep it would maybe Be Kelly. UBRA
34:13
Speaker 2: i Know Nick nurris is a huge fan of. Him
34:15
Speaker 2: he did have good moments last. Year he was one
34:18
Speaker 2: of the guys that consistently showed, effort WHICH i do,
34:21
Speaker 2: appreciate and then he is one of their better, defenders
34:23
Speaker 2: SO i think most likely would probably Be ubra least
34:27
Speaker 2: likely would probably Be.
34:28
Speaker 1: DRUMMER i loved the conversation Here, harrison because at the
34:31
Speaker 1: end of the, day while we saw a terrible the
34:34
Speaker 1: past offseason from This sixers, team a lot of it
34:37
Speaker 1: based on injury and just various developmental, GROWTH i still
34:42
Speaker 1: think that there is promise for this team this coming.
34:45
Speaker 1: SEASON i believe that we can see a winning season
34:49
Speaker 1: from The, sixers a team that could potentially go to
34:51
Speaker 1: the playoffs again if everybody does stay. Healthy they're definitely
34:56
Speaker 1: is OPTIMISM i think for us to continue to grasp
34:59
Speaker 1: on to as it pertains to this. Team, So, BUDDY
35:03
Speaker 1: i really appreciate you taking the time to stop by
35:05
Speaker 1: The Philadelphia Sports table podcast show here given your, sites,
35:09
Speaker 1: insights and your thoughts as to where this team is
35:12
Speaker 1: going to be going down the road and folks again
35:15
Speaker 1: libertyballers dot. Com check out everything That harrison and his
35:19
Speaker 1: colleagues are putting up over there again On libertyballers dot. Com,
35:23
Speaker 1: buddy join us down the, road come. Back i'd love
35:26
Speaker 1: to talk More sixers with you at some point at
35:28
Speaker 1: The it'd be a great conversation as.
35:30
Speaker 2: Always, absolutely, man let's do. It thanks for having.
35:33
Speaker 1: Me that's going to do it for us here On
35:35
Speaker 1: Table talk this. Week please share our podcast with your
35:38
Speaker 1: friends and family members who Are philly sports fans or
35:41
Speaker 1: sports fans in. General we thank you our listeners for
35:46
Speaker 1: being part of this online community with us and within this.
35:49
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35:52
Speaker 1: sportstable dot com for all of our, podcasts and follow
35:56
Speaker 1: us on our social sites over On twitter At Philadelphia
35:59
Speaker 1: Past threads At Philadelphia Sports, table and over On instagram as.
36:04
Speaker 1: Well take care and we'll catch you next.
36:06
Speaker 2: Time