Five reasons to feel positive about the Philadelphia 76ers

3. Shooters

The Sixers had the worst shot selection in the NBA last year. They led the league in attempts from 10-23 feet while finishing dead last in shots at the rim. That was partly personnel driven and partly due to Doug Collins’  No Turnovers philosophy. This year, that will change. On one hand you have Bynum, who gets to the rim and the line regularly in his sleep. But you also have the new trio of shooters the Sixers made a point of picking up this offseason.

Jason Richardson is on the downside of his career but still a very efficient outside shooter. Young has issues with his shot selection but is great on the catch-and-shoot if you can keep him on a leash. Wright lost playing time last season to Brandon Rush and Klay Thompson in Golden State, so the Sixers bought low on him for nothing. One of those guys will start next to Holiday (a capable shooter) and Turner (not) and play a huge role in keeping defenses honest when Bynum is doubled.

Being more dynamic on the offensive end will be crucial to this team’s success now and going forward. Young likely is only here for a season, but Wright could be looking at a new deal and Richardson is signed for two more. It will be really exciting for a few minutes a game when Collins goes small and plays a lineup of Holiday/Richardson/Young/Wright/Bynum and stretch the crap out of the floor.

4. Better Roles for Hawes and Thaddeus Young

Nobody wanted Hawes back in Philly. And despite being one of the sweetest, most polite players in the NBA, Thaddeus Young is generally seen as overpaid for how many holes there are in his game. Both were big liabilities wherever you played them.

But with Bynum in the fold, it actually helps that Hawes has no interest playing inside and only wants to make cute passes from the top of the key. He will still have an exceedingly tough time guarding mobile power forwards, but it should at least serve up some hilarity when he tries to keep up with them and falls down. Thaddeus Young is a terrible defensive rebounder, especially for a power forward. But since Bynum is so dominant on the glass, he doesn’t hurt you down there anymore. He can cover guys on the pick-and-roll, – which he does very well – while Bynum mans the paint and protects the glass.

Offensively, Thaddeus Young still needs to have a consistent jumper and Hawes needs to essentially become Pau Gasol, but there’s a lot more to be optimistic about with this power forward platton than there would have been if Hawes and Brown were starting next to each other.

5. Less Pressure on Holiday and Turner

First-round picks in consecutive years, Holiday and Turner ostensibly have become the team’s vocal leaders,  being two of just five returnees from last season’s squad. They will have much less pressure on them to run the offense. Bynum opens up so many different things that Holiday and Turner will have a much easier time getting to the basket and getting the shots they want. Initially, it will be difficult for all involved to get good shots within the flow of the offense. But as time goes on (and Turner’s jumper gains consistency – fingers crossed!), it should start to look like an actual offense – something the Sixers haven’t had in 20 years.

This team is still undoubtedly one major piece away from winning a championship. The Sixers hope that piece doesn’t have to come at the expense of a struggling Holiday or Turner. If they can become the third-best players on a title team, it’ll make things much easier on the Sixers heading into next summer’s free agency, when they’re trying to find their guy. Bynum should really ease the load and do wonders for their confidence on both ends of the court.

But with both still failing to put it together over a full season, it’s put up or shut up time nearing contract time.

All in all, it’s a very exciting time to be a Sixers fan. There’s always the chance that injuries derail the whole operation, but at this point all we can assess is the philosophy of the moves they’ve made. It’s certainly a risk bringing in Bynum and the baggage he carries from LA. But it was the right trade – easily, no question about it. And whether it is this year or next year or the year after that, the trade is going to pay off for them.

And I’m feeling mighty mighty positive about that.

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Michael Levin is the editor of LibertyBallers.com, SB Nation’s Philadelphia 76ers site and the biggest Sixers blog anywhere. He’s struggling to cope with the idea that the Sixers could actually be a good franchise. He would give Greg Oden a max contract on principle. You can follow him on Twitter at @Michael_Levin.