OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark

Philadelphia 76ers:

Week 11: 2-0
Won vs: Pacers 130-114, Jazz 131-123 (OT)

Week 12 opponents: @Bulls, @Wizards, Spurs

Offense: (111.9) 14th
Defense: (108.6) 5th
Net: (Plus +3.3) 8th

With news, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were pulled from the All-Star Game due to contact tracing the NBA potentially avoided a super spreader event.

The big question now is how this impacts the 76ers. Neither tested positive initially so it might not have any ill effect. Fortunately, the schedule serves up winnable games as the 76ers will play the Bulls, Wizards, and Spurs the first week back.

The more pressing issue however will be how the 76ers respond to the move the Nets made by adding Blake Griffin. Brooklyn still has two roster spots to fill and doesn’t have anyone capable (yet) of handling Embiid.

While Simmons is delivering a strong defensive campaign and thriving under Doc Rivers, Philly needs another playmaker and one ideally who can hit from the perimeter. That could mean OKC Thunder veteran George Hill who answers the call– or rather, Sam Presti who answers the call and gets something valuable in return.