Week in Sixers (?)

'What's Been Happening?' didn't have a great ring to it, so I'm trying something new. This title might not stick either, but eh, I'm gonna roll with it for now. Don't @ me.

Anyway, here's what's been happening (I just can't get away from it, dammit) with our Sixers...

6th Man Back in the Building

There will be a welcome change the first time the Sixers will take home court after the All-Star break.

Butts in the crowd.

One day after Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf relaxed restrictions on large crowds, it was announced that the Wells Fargo Center would formally be allowing fans back into the building. Beginning Sunday, March 7, 3100 fans will be permitted to attend events. This is right in line with the 15% capacity limit posed by the new state guidelines.

While I myself won't be found in any crowds just yet, this is nonetheless great news for anyone brave enough--and cautious enough--to take in live game action again. And it will just be awesome to have a real Frosty Freezeout, won't it? I mean, come on, just listen to this:

What a sound.

Horford Speaks on Year with Sixers

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Al Horford doesn't think he was a great fit for the Sixers last season. In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, the 14-year veteran had this to say:

“I just think, just putting it all out there, I just think it just wasn't a good fit. We just weren't jelling. We weren't meshing. And obviously, we had a lot of big guys out there in particular out playing and it just wasn't fitting.”

Well...he's not wrong. The Sixers signed Horford to a four-year, $109M contract before the 2019-2020 season in hopes that the career center could slide over to power forward next to franchise star Joel Embiid, as well as buffer the minutes Embiid sat on the bench or start in his stead in games he missed.

It didn't work out that way. Horford posted the lowest field goal percentage of his career (45.0%) and his lowest scoring figures (11.9 points per game) since his third year in the league. He appeared a tick or two slower on defense than in previous years, as well. This past offseason, the Sixers shipped him off to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the package that brought back Terrance Ferguson, Danny Green, and Vincent Poirier.

The 34-year-old has had a bit of bounce back year with the Thunder, but it simply wasn't working here. Ferguson and Poirier are seldom used end of bench pieces, but Green has been a steady role player for the Sixers. The 12-year veteran is the only Sixer to have started every game this season, averaging 8.6 points in 28.5 minutes and shooting 38.0% on triples while providing steady perimeter defense.

Joe sent to G League

As if in response to me disrespecting Furkan Korkmaz or jumping the gun in my effusive praise, or just to make me look stupid, the Sixers have sent rookie guard Isaiah to their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. The 2020 second rounder has seen action in 20 games this year, giving the Sixers 4.3 points in 12.0 minutes. He only shot 36.7% from the field, though he did bury 38.3% of his 3-pointers and wasn't shy about firing them off (9.0 3-point attempts per 36 minutes). He also showcased some functional defensive potential despite his lean 6'4", 165-lb frame, which he will undoubted work on bulking up in the coming years.

It seemed like with Korkmaz struggling and his own minutes slipping in favor of Joe that the rookie might be able to claim a full-time rotation spot. Then Korkmaz went and had his best game of the season starting in place of Seth Curry in a win over the Toronto Raptors. Joe played in a little over 8 total minutes between that game and the next, logged a DNP in the following game, and was demoted the very next day.

This does not, however, figure to be a lengthy demotion. The Blue Coats' regular season schedule concludes on March 6 and the playoff calendar ends on March 11, which just so happens to be the date the Sixers resume play following the All-Star break. Viewed that way, it's an opportunity for the freshman to get some consistent playing time. Expect him back with the team very soon.

No Sixers in Rising Stars Challenge

In other news somewhat tangential to the story above, the Sixers will not be represented in this year's Rising Stars Challenge. The event is a part of All-Star weekend and features rookies and sophomores elected by assistant coaches across the league. The players are separated into two teams, the USA and the World roster.

This isn't to say the Sixers have no promising first- and second-year players. Matisse Thybulle is already a defensive terror, and if he can refine his deep ball a bit, he figures to be an encyclopaedical 3-and-D force. Tyrese Maxey has seen his court time fluctuate after a stellar first few weeks to the season, but his best case scenario is a starting-caliber ballhandler with slashing ability and a nasty floater, and a solid defensive conscience in his own right. Even the aforementioned Joe has shown flashes of rotation worthy play.

But if the Rising Stars Challenge is about, well, potential stars, then it's difficult to argue with their omissions from the roster. Maxey likely has the highest ceiling of the bunch, but projecting a star is perhaps a touch ambitious.

Philly's Own Coming Home?

I touched upon this in my most recent Week in Review, Kyle Lowry could be maybe, possibly, kinda sorta be available, and he might not mind a return to his roots. The soon-to-be 35-year-old keeps right on chugging, and is actually averaging 18.0 points on the highest effective field goal percentage and second best true shooting percentage of his potential Hall of Fame career. This team has long needed a viable secondary creator and playmaker to ease the burden on Ben Simmons, and Lowry's fit is undeniable.

Naturally, all of this, combined with the fact that the Toronto Raptors are a level or two below Championship contenders this year, plus the matter of Lowry's expiring contract, AND mixing in Daryl Morey's affinity for blockbuster moves, means that the rumor mill is churning out all sorts of potential deals. This one is a little too expensive for my tastes. This is cleaner, but still a bit steep.

Either way, this could be a where there's smoke, there's fire situation.

I'm game.