As teams complete their season, ESPN Insider's NBA team will take a look at the offseason picture and priorities for all 30 teams. Below, Kevin Pelton offers a snapshot of the Philadelphia 76ers.
2014-15 record: 18-64
Pythagorean record: 18-64
Offensive rating: 93.0 (30th)
Defensive rating: 102.1 (13th)
Draft picks
Own first-round pick (third entering lottery)
L.A. Lakers' first-round pick, top-5 protected (fourth entering lottery)
Miami's first-round pick, top-10 protected (10th entering lottery)
Orlando's second-round pick (35th)
Denver's second-round pick (37th)
New Orleans' second-round pick (47th or 48th, pending coin flip)
Houston's second-round pick (56th or 57th, pending coin flip)
Golden State's second-round pick (60th)
Projected cap space
Maximum: $34.5 million
Minimum: $6.7 million
Likely: $32.6 million
What's returning
During the second half of his rookie season, Nerlens Noel emerged as the first jewel of Sam Hinkie's rebuilding project. Two full years removed from ACL surgery, Noel averaged better than two steals and two blocks per game after the All-Star break, providing nearly unprecedented defensive versatility. He was also competent offensively, shooting 48.7 percent. Noel's presence helped Philadelphia improve to above average defensively.
The 76ers can only hope Joel Embiid's development goes as well. Like Noel, Embiid sat out his entire first season in the NBA while recovering from surgery -- in his case, to repair a fractured navicular bone. Embiid's dunks and 3s during warm-ups and drills offer hope for when he's able to get on the court.
Besides Noel, Philadelphia discovered other keepers this season. Robert Covington translated his strong D-League numbers to the NBA, emerging as the Sixers' leading scorer while shooting 37.4 percent from 3-point range. Hollis Thompson shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range for the second consecutive season, including 45.8 percent after the All-Star break. And Isaiah Canaan had big moments after arriving from Houston midseason.
Free agents
No Sixer of note becomes a free agent this summer. Ish Smith, whom Noel called "the first true point guard I've ever really played with," is probably the most notable member of the group. Jason Richardson will probably take his leadership and shooting elsewhere after returning two years after knee surgery. Henry Sims took a step backward after flashing promise after the 2014 trade deadline in Philadelphia.
The 76ers might keep the Robinsons around. Thomas pulled down 22.9 percent of all available rebounds after joining the team, and Glenn is young enough to return on a nonguaranteed deal.
Biggest need: perimeter playmaking
Hinkie has demonstrated an ability to find wings on the cheap, and Philadelphia's frontcourt is well stocked with Embiid and Noel -- not to mention possibly Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, depending on where the Sixers' pick lands, and overseas stash Dario Saric. So as Philadelphia projects toward competitiveness, the biggest need is clearly at point guard after Michael Carter-Williams was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks at the deadline.
Biggest question: How quickly will the Sixers build up?
With Embiid possibly healthy and the addition of at least one more lottery pick, it's unlikely Philadelphia will post a win total in the teens again next year. Given the current state of the Eastern Conference, it's not inconceivable that the 76ers could find themselves on the fringe of the playoff race if they add immediate help in free agency. By October, we'll have a better idea of whether Philadelphia anticipates another season of accumulating talent through the draft or is ready to start trying to win.
Ideal offseason
Lottery luck is with the Sixers, who land both the Lakers' (sixth) and Miami Heat's (11th) picks to go along with their own in the top four. Given Philly's roster makeup, it might not be the worst thing for the 76ers' own pick to land third or fourth, allowing them to add a guard (either Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay, who spent last year playing in China) to go with their existing frontcourt talent.
Kawhi Leonard signs a max offer sheet with Philadelphia, and because of a clerical error, the San Antonio Spurs somehow fail to match. Starting a lineup of Russell, Mario Hezonja, Leonard, Noel and Embiid -- all below age 25 -- the league's youngest team emerges as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.