Preseason NBA Power Rankings: Philadelphia 76ers look like Eastern Elite

4. Philadelphia 76ers

26 teams down and we finally get to the team everyone’s been waiting for: the Philadelphia 76ers.

After largely striking out on a number of big-name additions over the summer, the Sixers finally shored up their front office with the addition of Elton Brand and added a few more shooters to their now fairly deep stable.

But for Philly, the season will largely come down to the development of Markelle Fultz as he enters his second season with the team.

Regardless of how well Mike Muscala performs as a shooting center, if Zhaire Smith can make an impact as a rookie, or if Landry Shamet can be a late first round steal, the Sixers season will live or die by Fultz’s progression. If he can live up to the pedigree of being the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and blossom into a legitimate third homegrown star than the sky is the limit for a 76ers squad that could pick up another auxiliary piece going into the playoffs, but if he struggles once more, Philly may have to wait until 2019 to #CompleteTheProcess and go all in on the 2020 NBA finals.