It was impossible to watch Game 1 of the NBA Finals without getting nonstop reminders about what could've been for the Philadelphia Sixers. From Julian Champagnie shooting 5-of-10 from three, to Landry Shamet knocking down big shots and busting the Spurs' calls, to Mikal Bridges' impact on both ends, Philly couldn't catch a break.
In 2023, the Sixers waived Champagnie after he appeared in just two games as a rookie to sign Mac McClung, who was never going to be a rotation player, for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. That was a short-sighted move that Philadelphia didn't think would hold the consequences it already has, and it will get even worse if San Antonio wins it all.
Spurs are the Sixers' preferred champion, but there truly is no winning
Of course, Sixers fans should be rooting for the Spurs to win, rather than watching the Knicks celebrate their first title in 53 years. The sting of knowing that Philadelphia essentially gifted Champagnie to San Antonio for an eventual championship run would be worth it for New York's suffering to continue. Still, there is more to it than that.
Philly drafted Bridges with the No. 10 pick in the 2018 draft, but the homecoming was short-lived, as it traded him to Phoenix for (*checks notes*) Zhaire Smith and an unprotected 2021 first-round pick that they ended up sending to the Clippers for Tobias Harris. So much for the vision on that.
The Sixers could never have predicted that one day the Suns would use Bridges in a trade to acquire someone like Kevin Durant, or that the Knicks would send the Nets five first-round picks for him over a year later. Both moves made Philadelphia look even worse for letting him go for essentially nothing, but if he helps New York win a title? Yikes.
If Champagnie and Bridges weren't enough, Shamet is now up there, too. The Sixers drafted him in 2018, 16 picks after they selected Bridges, and he was around for only half a season before they sent him to LA for Harris. Talk about a double whammy.
Shamet's path didn't involve him being an in-demand player like Bridges, as he hopped around to a few teams before finding his fit in New York. Even then, the Knicks re-signed him over the summer to only a veteran's minimum deal. He didn't even start the playoffs in the rotation, but he's shooting 58.5% from three on 2.7 attempts per game in the postseason, coming alive when they need him most.
Just when the Sixers thought it couldn't get any worse.
You can say Philadelphia is living in a bit of a nightmare, but at least the ending is coming soon. It just might not be the one that the Sixers want.
