SnoTap NBA Preview: Philadelphia 76ers

Andrew Kasmarek, Mitch Pratt and Charlie Tritschler are getting you ready for the NBA season. The previews feature all sorts of information to get you ready for the start of the season. 

What I know

• This is the worst team in the National Basketball Association. I cannot remember a team that people are expecting to be just horrible before game one of the season. Usually it happens a month into a season before we deem the worst team in said sport. Philadelphia's over/under this year is 16.5. 16.5!
• I do not think Philadelphia breaks the worst record award for multiple reasons but the biggest reason being many teams will rest their players when they play Philadelphia leading to easier opponents where the Sixers can notch an added victory or two. 
• Nerlens Noel will miss the whole year. They talked about that this week but I feel like there is no real reason to play with Noel this year unless he is completely healthy and ready to go. It makes no sense to rush Nerlens out there especially at his age.    

Big Question
Breakout year for Evan Turner? - If The Villain as Mark Titus calls him does not break out this season, hope might be lost for him. There will be a lot of SportsCenter highlights that utter the words 'Evan Turner played well in a losing effort.' Looking at the progress, Turner is on his way. He seems to be more comfortable shooting 3-pointers now as he only shot a combined 93 threes in his first two years to shoot 159 at a 36 percent clip which is not shabby given where he was in 2011-2012. Turner also made strides in free throw percentage, scoring, rebounding and assists. I would not be worried about his high turnover rate because I believe that comes from him playing more often plus young age than anything else.

X-Factor
Michael Carter-Williams, I guess? - Honestly the cupboard is about as bare as a broke college kid needing groceries. The Sixers cupboard would have peanut butter and maybe some Sardines. I will go with Carter-Williams because the verdict was out on him in June. MCW showed flashes of greatness at Syracuse but he also looked like complete shit. He will take some lumps for sure in the first year of playing against talented guards but it will help Carter-Williams in the long run. Curious to see how much zone they play given his college experience at Syracuse. My assumption with Carter-Williams is he will be a slow developing talent in the NBA.

Key Additions
SF Royce White, PG Darius Morris - Yup. These are their additions to the team. White is an enigma honestly and we will see how long of a leash they give him this season. If Royce can figure himself out, it could translate to a big year on the basketball court. You never know with young talent. Morris will help out Carter-Williams but not much. He did adequate work with Los Angeles Lakers but there is not really anything special about him.

Key Subtractions
SF Dorell Wright, SF Nick 'Swaggy P' Young, PG Jrue Holiday - Wright did not spend much time in Philadelphia. I like, Kazz, have absolutely no idea where Swaggy P's nickname comes from and I am sure Philadelphia will miss him. Holiday is a young guy who played well for this team but with Philadelphia's situation, they made the right decision to get another lottery pick next year. That's a haul for a guy like Holiday.

Sixers Draft
C Nerlens Noel, PG Michael Carter-Williams - We already talked at length about both of these players yet they are the foundation of the future of the franchise. Do I think Carter-Williams is a franchise player? Absolutely not, solid role player though. Noel can be a game-changer for him on the defensive end and will add to this team in the coming years. If they get Andrew Wiggins or Julius Randle, they could be have a strong start to a new look team.

Prediction
They will finish with the worst record in the league but they will not get the number one pick in the NBA Draft. David Stern is leaving in February but he spoke already about his displeasure with how this Sixers team was assembled this season. Stern will make it a mission to prevent Philadelphia from the number one spot.

Charlie.