ESPN Panel Predicts Sixers to Win Just 20 Games in 2016-17

Should Sixers fans start to get their expectations up for the season — not if you believe ESPN Forecast’s NBA panel.

To preview the 2016-17 season, the panel picked Philadelphia to finished tied for 14th — or last in the Eastern Conference, winning just 20 games, a 10-game improvement from the Sixers 10-72 season.

Our projections have the 76ers doubling their win total from last season thanks in part to No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons. While it's a projection of "only" 20 wins, for Philadelphia that would be the franchise's most since 2012-13 when the Sixers won 34 games.

The projections have the Sixers finishing tied with the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference and 15 games behind the Orlando Magic for the 13th spot.

The panel mentions Ben Simmons as a big reason for the 10-game improvement, but makes no mention of Joel Embiid or Dario Saric helping to improve things much. Also the future of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are in limbo with both names considered trade possibilities as we get closer to the start of training camp.