Fansided

Can the 76ers compete with three elite players and, um, not much else?

By Keith Parish

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 1: JJ Redick #17 and Landry Shamet #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the LA Clippers on November 1, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 1: JJ Redick #17 and Landry Shamet #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the LA Clippers on November 1, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Well after years of wandering the basketball wilderness tanking for the future the 76ers finally traded for a star. In acquiring Jimmy Butler from the embattled Timberwolves, not only did an All-Star finally travel from the West to the East (without swapping for another one), but Philadelphia added a third elite player to join Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. According to Sports Illustrated’s 2019 NBA Top 100 the Sixers now have the 9th (Embiid), 10th (Butler) and 26th (Simmons) best players in the league.

But in the the face of a dominant Raptors team, a reborn Bucks juggernaut and the loaded Celtics, does this trade vault them ahead of any of those competitors? Beyond their new big three and J.J. Reddick, what players can be trusted to get regular season wins, let alone playoff ones? And if the noise that accompanied Butler in Minnesota follows him to Philadelphia, will Elton Brand regret pulling the trigger on the deal?

To help answer these questions, Max Rappaport (@MaxOnTwitter) joins for a new episode of Fastbreak Breakfast. Besides addressing how well Philadelphia can match up with other elite teams now, the following topics are covered:

  • How much was this trade a response to the slowed development of Markelle Fultz and how much was based on the opportunity cost being relatively low?
  • Will T.J. McConnell be given an elevated role after being benched for much of the season?
  • What is the proper way for a Process fan to memorialize the contributions of Dario Saric and Robert Covington?

Fastbreak Breakfast is a podcast for serious NBA fans that is incredibly not serious. All episodes are available on Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud or any other major podcast service.

Music provided courtesy of New Man and Codaphonic.

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