Sixers: Most important quotes from media day

The Sixers season is drawing nearer, and the team held their annual media day just before the start of training camp.

Media day always seems to be a fun adventure for the Sixers. Last year, if you’ll recall, it served as the opening salvo to the Nerlens Noel saga. It became one of the biggest stories in the NBA at the time, and one that pushed for his mid-season trade to the Dallas Mavericks.

This year, more promise and hope is flooding the organization. The returns of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are enough to get anyone excited, but add in top pick Markelle Fultz and veteran J.J. Redick, and you can see the reason Philadelphia is so hopeful.

This is a day to allow the media to ask practically any question that has been itching at them all summer. It gives the players and the team a chance to reiterate their goals for this season, and hopes for improvement.

So far, in this year’s media day , the Sixers have already given some big quotes involving the statuses of their injured young stars, the Okafor trade scenario, and the newest signees in Kris Humphries and Emeka Okafor.

The Good Embiid

Any question of Embiid holding out because of contract negotiations were shot down by the player himself. Of course, there’s no real way of knowing the truth. But Embiid remains adamant that his focus is on returning to the team healthy to earn that contract.

This quote should push the skeptics to sag off a bit in terms of theorizing why Embiid has yet to be cleared for 5-on-5 just under a month before the season’s start.

The Bad Embiid

Not horrible news. We knew that Joel Embiid was unlikely to get anywhere near the 82-game mark this season. But this puts the expectations of limitations put onto the big man once he’s cleared to play.

Maybe it’s a minutes restriction, maybe it’s resting back to back, but the Sixers will continue to play cautious.

Simmons at 100%

After a peculiar holding out last season due to a foot injury in training camp, Ben Simmons is now fully healthy and ready to start his NBA career without restrictions.

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise, as the Sixers had eyes for him to debut in 2017-18 since he fractured his foot.

Jahlil Okafor…here to stay?

Contrary to reports made during the media luncheon, Bryan Colangelo claims he has not been actively shopping embattled center Jahlil Okafor.

Okafor has reformed his body and diet, and could actually become a positive if he can develop effectiveness off the bench. The trade to be that turned into a non-trade must’ve been difficult, but Okafor seems happy to return to basketball in Philadelphia.

The market for big men has dried out considerably, so the Sixers may be better off hoping for a renaissance.

Sheed gets a name drop

Rasheed Wallace probably wasn’t a name you’d think you here at Sixers media day. New signee Amir Johnson lost 22 pounds this offseason, and points to the former Pistons great about why he was much bigger. Beer was involved.

It’s a shame we weren’t graced with more quotes from this finding. Rasheed’s favorite beer will remain an unknown for now.

Next: The consequences of drafting multiple centers

More quotes will surely come from the media day today, but so far the Sixers have remained consistent in updates with Embiid, a refreshing change from the past few seasons.