Joel Embiid’s layup with 11:46 to go in the 4th quarter gave the Sixers a seemingly insurmountable 28-point lead against the Miami Heat. But these are the Sixers, and no lead has been safe this season. It has brought Philadelphia fans memories of Mitch Williams, and his high-wire acts on the mound trying to close out games for the Phillies. Wayne Ellington hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left, and Miami trailed by 4. This time, the crisis would be averted, and the Sixers held on to win by 6. This happens more often than it should. Large leads have not been safe. The problem is that the Sixers need an Alpha dog. A closer. A player who wants the ball at the end of the game and can get his own shot. Ben Simmons might be it down the road, but until he’s a better shooter, it’s not him. Robert Covington can’t get his own shot. J.J. Redick can’t handle the ball and needs to spot up for a shot. Dario Saric might be able to do it down the road, but he’s too inconsistent with the ball, and doesn’t always make great decisions. It’s difficult for a center to be the closer, and as good as Embiid is at passing out of a double team, he turns the ball over too often at this point in his career. It’s time to add a player, use an asset and make a trade.
There have been many names mentioned. Tyreke Evans and Marco Belinelli among others. Both make sense. They are wings who can score, and are in the final year of their contract. Are they worth giving up a first round pick as rentals? Lou Williams might be. Williams, who started his career with the Sixers, is an outstanding one-on-one player, who can shoot and get to the free throw line. This has been the best year of his career, averaging 23.5 points a game, shooting 44% from the field, and 39% from 3-point land. Most importantly he wants the ball, craves the ball, and would take the pressure off of Simmons and Embiid at the end of games.
So back to the question of, is it worth a 1st round pick for a rental? It is for this rental. The Sixers need to learn how to win. If they can give up the pick and get the Clippers to take Jerryd Bayless, and his bloated 8.5 million dollar salary next season, all the better. This is the next part of the process. Even assuming Markelle Fultz plays this year and contributes in the way Sixers executives envisioned, Williams still makes sense to take the pressure off of him as well. Bringing Lou Williams back to Philly is the perfect fit, and a first round pick in 2018 or 2019 should get it done.
