By Tim McManus
The Phanatic Magazine
It's a bit of a sad state, really, when the 76ers organization is looked at as second rate.
Notice that as the Kevin Garnett/Kobe Bryant trade winds continue to howl, that nobody has even had the heart to make up a scenario that would send one of them to Philly. They realize that the Sixers' chips are few, and that even if they could conjure up an appetizing package, the star would nix the deal well before it had a chance of going through.
Once upon a time, the best were pining to come here. It was LA, it was Boston, and it was Philadelphia.
The mix of poor drafting and even worse contracts, though, strangled the allure out of the 76ers and turned them into nothing more than a light workout -- a sparring session -- for actual contenders.
All of this has happened with Billy King in the upper circle.
And now, he sits at the controls with three first-round picks in one pocket and all of the power in the other. The luxury of rebuilding is not often given to the man in charge during the destruction. But, the professional sports world spins in its own unique way.
And so King stands on top of the heap, looking out at the most critical time for the 76ers in maybe three decades.
Cap space is freeing up and the Sixers have four picks in a great draft. If they hit it right, they could pull out a pair of All-Stars and another contributor. If they do OK, they can get a role player or two that can help down the road.
If they botch it, the results are crippling. They'll have lost Allen Iverson -- one of the greatest players in team history -- in vein. They'll be saddled with several bad, guaranteed contracts. They would have suffered through a tough season for nothing.
They will further lose the faith of the fans, and just as damaging, the players around the league. They will be known as the team who had the answers right in their grasp, and didn't have the competence to close their hand.
If tonight brings failure, it will affirm the beliefs of those who choose to stay away from a once proud franchise.
This draft decides whether the echoes will be awoken, or sealed off.
God speed, Billy King.
1 comment:
Don't worry as long as the Knicks are around the Sixers will never be the biggest laughing stocks in the league.
With that said, though, prepare to be disappointed tonight.
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