Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: An Outside Look On The Team

By George Kondoleon

Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) takes a pass during shooting drills prior to playing Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers
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How good can Philadelphia 76ers rookie Joel Embiid be after missing his first two seasons?

Dave: Joel Embiid has the highest ceiling of any player on the 76ers’ roster. The promise and potential he showed at Kansas made him look like a perennial All-Star in the making. Of course, the injuries are a concern, but if he is healthy, I see no reason why any of that potential has changed. Missing two years of on court development is certainly a problem, but one has to think that being around that coaching staff, Brett Brown especially, will have had a positive effect on his basketball IQ. I am still very high on Embiid.

Ti: That depends on a lot of things, honestly. Personally I think Embiid will be good, but a player’s situation determines so much about their success. It’ll be hard for Embiid at first because Philly’s spacing is garbage, to be brutally honest. In lineups surrounded by players like Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Gerald Henderson and potentially another center, Embiid won’t get much breathing room in the post. He has the tools to be great, but it’s up to Brett Brown and Philly’s front office to make sure he lives up to expectations.

Duncan: There’s really no book on Joel Embiid anymore. He’s such an unknown quantity at this point after missing two seasons, and the lack of game action is sure to hurt him to some degree. That said, if he has some of the same ability he displayed in college he should still be excellent. If he can play to his potential and stays healthy, he may be a rookie of the year candidate.

Advith: Joel Embiid may end up becoming the best player from the 2014 NBA Draft. It’s truly a shame that he has missed these past couple seasons because his potential is otherworldly. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Embiid winning the rookie of the year award, either. His athletic, muscular build also makes him a great pick and roll partner with Simmons, which should ease any concerns fans have about his fit on a team that is amidst a center logjam. Simmons and Embiid have the chance to be a dynamic duo for years to come.

Adam: I fully believe in Embiid and he will be worth the wait. It’s hard not to be excited watching his summer videos, but we’re all more keen to see him play actual opponents rather than his trainer. Ben Simmons injury means Embiid comes more to the fore now, but he will be ready. He may not hit the ground running, but that’s understandable after two-and-a-half years on the sidelines. He’ll be on a minutes restriction and he won’t get to play alongside Simmons for a while, but as long as he flashes the talent we all know he possesses that will be an excellent start to his NBA career.