Time to play our hand & move all in!

Getting very excited that the draft is now only a few days away. Alot of rumors and speculation flying around the entire NBA, like always right before the draft. Since the lottery took place, we have debated who we would like the team select for the #2 draft choice. The majority wants the Sixers to take Evan Turner, where a few have endorsed Derrick Favors as the best fit for our team, moving towards the future.

In the NBA landscape you are either a Title Contender or a bottom feeder, you never want a team that is a middle of a road team. A team that is good enough to qualify for the playoffs, but unable to make any noise what so ever once in there, which in essence costs the franchise a premium draft pick. Last year's Sixer team was indeed a bottom feeder, with there disappointing season, netting them the second overall pick in this year's draft. If you aren't going to win the title, this is the best path to have future success.

My fear is of the team does go ahead and draft Evan Turner, they will become that middle of the road team, not a Title Contender. Several years of playoff appearances, but unable to become a true title contender. I believe the same could be said with drafting Derrick Favors as well. The franchise is in a tough spot, to try and generate some buzz to bring the fans back, thus a big splash must take place this offseason.

With the team coming off a dissapointing 27 win season, what has this group of players accomplished? Yes, they qualified for the playoffs a few times, with Andre Miller running the point, but failed to win a single playoff series. The front office believed they were a post player away from being a contender,but the Elton Brand signing was a absolute disaster. Watching from the sidelines this offseason, it is extremely difficult to see teams like NY & NJ competing to land the likes of Lebron, Wade, Bosh, etc. The Sixer team is handcuffed due to an immovable contract that Brand received. What players do the Sixers really have? Two athletic tweeners and a defensive minded point guard. Add either Turner or Favors to the mix, they will improve, but not be considered a title contender next season or the next several years.

With the draft this week, the Sixers must open their hand and move all in! We know Turner will become the new face of the Franchise later this week, but it is time to blow up the entire roster and build the team from the bottom up. In my mind, Holliday is the only untouchable player I see on the entire roster at this point. This year's draft has two big man who have the potential to become stars on the next level with some development: Favors & Cousins. The team needs to do what ever it takes to land one of them to pair with Evan Turner & Jrue Holliday. If it means dealing Andre or Andre plus, you make the deal. You have three young future stars that can develop together and become a legit title contender in a few seasons. Bringing two future stars, will generate that buzz and get the fans back into the arena, with hope for future success.

Right now it appears that NJ is set on Favors, although Cousins may be closing the distance, Minnesota is locked on Wesley Johnson, the Kings appear leaning towards Greg Monroe, who knows about Golden State, but Detroit wants Cousins badly. Thus, a deal needs to be made with either of the next three teams behind us in NJ, Minnesota or the Kings. Favors is our #1 choice, but Cousins would be a nice consolidation prize. Who knows if New Jersey passes Favors for Cousins or Minnesota sending out signals about Favors conditioning, when they may covet him. Offer Andre to all of them, if no one bites sweentin the deal with either Thad, Speights or Lou Williams. If you need to take a bad contract, do it!

I know this may seem highly unrealistic, but this team isn't going anywhere with one impact player. Most likely they will select just Turner and fail to move another player to secure an additional draft pick, either a top 5 one or a mid-tier one involving other players on our roster. It is just frustrating to see this franshise stuck in the mud, with no hope of ever succeeding. In my opinion, going all in, will at least bring back hope for the future, not just another playoff team losing in the 1st round of the playoffs!