Philadelphia 76er Joel Embiid Taking It To Next Level

Feb 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid practices prior to a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the Philadelphia 76ers fading at the end of the 2015-2016 season, there is more than ever pressure on Joel Embiid to deliver the goods next season. But while we eagerly turn our attention towards tomorrow, we are finding he has already begun taking it to the next level

Expectations. The prerequisite of disappointment. You see, you can’t really be disappointed if you never set the expectation first. So if we, as a fan base, form a mutual pact NOT to set any expectations for the return to health of center/forward Joel Embiid next season, we’ll be certain NOT to be disappointed if he fails to match up to them.

But that is a pipe dream. We’ve already begun to hope. You see, the team invested a third pick of the 2014 NBA draft in the young man, knowing full well that his was the type of injury that would require a minimum of a year of rehabilitation to fix. After a year, the healing process was not quite there, and so a second surgery performed by world experts happened under the oversight of the Philadelphia 76ers. Knowing all of this, I believe that the team would have made the same selection.

You see, the Philadelphia 76ers believe that Joel Embiid is a game changer, and I heartily agree with them. The Philadelphia 76ers have the potential to score four draft picks in the first round, and perhaps two of those picks will happen in the top five selections of the 2016 NBA draft. But try as I might, I cannot imagine any prospect in this upcoming draft having the upside potential of a healthy Joel Embiid.