What Players Opting Out Could Mean for the Sixers
As the resuming of the regular season approaches, many high-level players are opting out of playing once the NBA season restarts.
Players on both Eastern and Western Conference teams have been deciding not to risk their health, as well as the health of their family and friends, and will not be participating in the remainder of the 2019-2020 NBA season.
The NBA has made it very clear that this is not frowned upon in any way and any player is free to opt-out. With the obvious health risks associated with playing, as well as the possibility of being quarantined for months, both the fans and the rest of the league have been open and receptive to every player’s decision to play or opt-out.
What does this mean for the Sixers?
At the time of writing, no member of the Sixers has decided to opt-out of playing. This means the entire team will be available once the season resumes on July 30th.
Obviously, this is a plus for the Sixers. Having the roster at full strength heading into the season’s restart is paramount. This is coupled with some teams who will be competing with the Sixers for playoff positioning losing players due to opting out. And while we should not cheer or root for players sitting out for health concerns, it’s hard to ignore the upside this could present for the Sixers.
Teams that the Sixers will be playing in the eight-game regular season have already had players declare they will sit out. These teams include the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards. The amount of stories of players opting out continues to grow by the day with Washington Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal considering opting out as well.
While we would once again not want Sixers’ fans to find joy in rival teams being depleted for more serious reasons, this does provide upside for the Sixers. If the Sixers can win some games they could potentially have lost, whether it be in the regular season or postseason, that could lead the Sixers towards a deeper playoff push. Take for example the aforementioned Indiana Pacers. The Pacers will be without their star guard Victor Oladipo for the playoffs and regular season, as he has chosen to opt-out.
Now, Oladipo has been out all season with an injury, but he would have been back for the playoffs had they started normally and given his Pacers a definite boost. Without him, the Sixers could potentially win their regular-season game against them to possibly move them into a better seed and maybe even beat them in the postseason should they meet again there.
Seeing as the Pacers are a team that holds a winning record over the Sixers this season, Oladipo sitting out could be monumental for the Sixers. This is just one example of how a player opting out could shift the tides for a team like the Sixers.
What do you think about players opting out?
Will anyone on the Sixers opt-out?
Featured Image: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
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