It cannot be overstated. I would have sold it, for sure. Spun it like any bullshit artist. But it wouldn’t pass legitimacy. Even though they had a better than good chance to keep the pick, the moments after Dallas and San Antonio catapulted into the top four those odds went out the window. But, it happened. 

They didn’t deserve it but ping pong balls don’t know any better. 

A Paul George 2027 player option size sigh of relief. 

Now, the fun begins. 

There isn’t a sure thing. 

The second pick would have been nicer. Cooper Flagg would erase these troubles. 

But the third pick. That is pretty neat! Last night marked the fourth time in a dozen years where the Sixers found themselves picking third once the lottery dust settled. 

I trust the draft experts, so I am in no position to judge these prospects, but to wake up this morning knowing the Sixers can add either a stud at three, trade down for a pick and player, or outright trade the pick for a player is the most wonderful thing after a season filled with misery. 

To optionality!

We know Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre, and Andre Drummond will opt in to their player options. This isn’t a situation like last year where only Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Ricky Council IV were rostered as the offseason began. Having players under contract like Gordon, Oubre, and Drummond provide flexibility in terms of matching salaries for trades. Many doubt Morey’s ability to build a contender. Any criticism is fair considering this team wasn’t good enough to sniff the play-in. They had maybe one solid stretch of OK basketball all year. Outside of trading for Giannis Antetokunmpo, the Sixers should not be trusted to contend in 2025. It’s an impossibly tricky situation. Nobody in their right mind will trust Embiid’s health. George is 35. But the third pick changes everything. Free agency seems fairly barren, which should result in Quentin Grimes returning. We know what Jared McCain looked like. Maxey didn’t go anywhere. 

For much of this season, they felt old and slow because they were old and slow. They needed a jolt alongside Maxey and McCain.

Embiid has always been the focal point of any Sixers blog post I’ve written since he was drafted in 2014. He nicknamed himself The Process. It’s why I desperately want him to be the reason why they win a title. He has been through everything imaginable. The highs have been outrageous. Game 3 of the 2019 conference semifinals. Or Game 5 of the 2023 conference semifinals. The lows have been maddening. Game 4 of the 2019 conference semifinals. Or Game 7 of the 2023 conference semifinals. For many, his days of being a MVP are over. He’ll be 32 the next time he can play in the playoffs. He has missed all or the majority of five seasons of his 11-year career. Damaged goods. It’s tough to write down, honestly. He has provided so much joy, optimism, and sheer resiliency. Usually, I chose to view his career in rose-colored glasses. Maybe this year will be different. After a while, you are who you are. But damnit do I still want him to be the guy.

What the Sixers do this summer will shed some light in how they view Embiid and George.

The third pick may not be a lifejacket. But it gives the Sixers a chance. 

Album listened to while writing this blog post: Samia’s Bloodless