The three big off-season issues facing the Sixers

As for the Philadelphia 76ers, there is never a boring moment. This season has been marked by Markelle Fultz's fiasco, Zhaire Smith's saga of allergies and Joel Embiid's worrying health. this includes two big swaps and a lot of debate about Ben Simmons' shot – and the season is over in 50 wins. Finally, their erratic journey ends with Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors, who eliminated Philly after Sunday's 92-90 victory in Game 7 of their playoff series. One year after losing to the Celtics in the second round, the Sixers have again reached the same level. But when last season, the team positioned itself as a story of well-being offering so many opportunities for growth, we will remember this one for its failure to meet expectations. So where does Philly go from here?

Here are the three big questions facing the Sixers as they enter the off season:

Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris: both or none?

The off season of these Sixers will be like waking up with a hangover and a damage bill the night before. The jobs Philly created for Butler and Harris seem disappointing now that the Sixers have not gone beyond the second round. When you all go that way, you expect at least to go to the finals. But the Sixers could be in a worse situation if both players – who will both be free agents this summer – would make deals with different teams. Of course, you will probably not give up Miami 2121's first unprotected round pick choice, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Landry Shamet, among others, without having the slightest assurance that at least one of the members, Butler or Harris, will sign again with you.

In the regular season, Harris seemed perfectly suited as he was not dominant in the ball and could provide the wing markings he badly needed. But in the playoffs, his numbers have dropped. Butler, meanwhile, has always been the kind of clutch player with the big stakes that he was supposed to be. When he arrived in Philadelphia, Butler complained he did not have enough balloon. But he has finally assimilated into the Sixers style and has become the team's most consistent player throughout the playoffs, averaging about 20 points, six rebounds and five assists per game. He also encouraged Embiid to shoot more than 3 in the playoffs and called him the best player on the team. Given some of the initial concerns about how he would fit in with the great personalities of Philly, Butler's move to place Embiid on a pedestal is a good sign for their future chemistry.

Philly will probably try to keep Harris and Butler – at least, that's what was announced during the acquisition of the players – but the question is whether both people will be offered the maximum salary that They wish (each can claim $ 32 million in starting salary, only Sixers can offer a fifth year), and if the Philly owners will be willing to pay the luxury tax to do so. This decision will probably depend on what the Sixers attach the most: do they favor a reliable top 25 player in the playoffs but who can be insolent, or do they prefer the flexibility and ability of Harris to score without needing the ball between his opponents? hands? And if they keep both, that is, they will work above the ceiling, how will they improve the lack of depth that cost them this series?

Will they have an extension with Ben Simmons?

For the second season in a row, Simmons' main weaknesses were revealed in the playoffs. The Raptors 'defense, like the Celtics last year, limited Simmons' playing options and revealed how painful it could be for him to shoot him out of the paint and fight the line. free throws. In seven games, Simmons has averaged 40%. That's not the main reason why Philly failed – the problems of building its alignment are what cost them, "but that bodes ill for the future of Simmons if it can not evolve to become a responsibility offensive if he does not have the ball in his hands.

Simmons is eligible for a maximum extension in July that could exceed $ 220 million. There is no indication that the Sixers are not trying to keep him in Philadelphia, even though his position with Embiid has attracted attention. At the same time, it did not improve much in the second year, and although I'm not saying that we need a promise from Glen Taylor's handshake – Andrew Wiggins here, I'm sure the arms of the Sixers would like to see Simmons live up to a max salary.

Simmons' long-term place in this team is in question. He is an incredible talent with a high ceiling, but where is he in a team where Butler and Embiid could attract so much attention? This is the improvement of his shot – let's start with the free throws – or maybe a change of position could be useful. Simmons can be effective without a reliable rider, but for it to be effective on this team, he has to bring more to the table. It might be better served as a small ball center rather than a playmaker, but as long as Embiid keeps the fort in the middle, it will probably not be possible.

What will happen with JJ Redick?

The situation of the Philly guard has been disastrous all season and the situation could become even more difficult this season. Simmons and Zhaire Smith are the only two contract guards for next season. For the third consecutive summer, Redick is courting the contenders for his shooting services. He is now 34, but he has been invaluable to this team and the Sixers have little choice but to try to hold him back. He was a 40% shooter of Deep this season and has increased his average points per game in each of the past three seasons. In an offense involving two inferior or non-existent external shooters (Simmons and Embiid), Redick lubricates the wheels with its off-ball movement and unbalanced manufacture.

With questions about Simmons and Smith, and Landry Shamet – once thought to be Redick's alleged heir – killing him with the Clippers, it's clear Philly must do. But keeping Redick is maybe not so simple. After signing a $ 23 million contract for a year with the Sixers in 2017, it took $ 12.3 million last summer in Redick to stay another year. While Joel Embiid had already forecast $ 27 million and Butler and Harris would hope to almost reach their maximum while they stayed, Redick will likely have to take another pay cut – perhaps the mid-level exception of $ 9 million, if Philly stays out of the tax? stay for a third year.