Philadelphia 76ers Adding Embiid, Saric and More

If two is company and three is a crowd, then the Philadelphia 76ers will be inheriting a small mob when the 2016 NBA draft concludes

By now, you should know the range of our picks: 100% on picking at anywhere from One-four, 44.2% on picking from four-five, 100% on 24, and 100% on 26. These are the ranges of the picks to be decided on lottery night: May 17, 2016. On that night the Philadelphia 76ers will learn whether they have the first pick of this NBA draft, or the fourth pick. They will learn if they will enjoy their second pick as that pick from the Los Angeles Lakers, or if they will be selecting next at 24 with the Miami Heat first pick.

If it were not the bittersweet ending of a 10-72 season, and the parting of ways with the founder of “The Process” Sam Hinkie, there would be a much different feel to the upcoming off-season. But now, with a rough three year demolition and the laying of a championship foundation underway, the last piece to the puzzle is simply to fill the seats.

To do that, the team will be relying upon the navigating skills of new President of Basketball Operations, Bryan Collangelo. But while the team may be deciding on as many as four top draft prospects in this draft, let’s start with the familiar groundwork of highlighting what the team can expecting with new faces in this off-season.

Center/Power Forward Joel Embiid

He’s 7’2″ and growing. He’s had a lone year at the collegiate basketball level but he’s learning. And by all accounts, he is the keystone to the Philadelphia 76ers hopes going forward. Is he an offensive juggernaut like Jahlil Okafor? Is he a staunch rim protector like Nerlens Noel? Why choose? Early reports suggest that he may be both.

The only true challenge facing these 76ers is getting Joel Embiid up to NBA playing speed after a greater than two year hiatus from basketball due to his recovering foot. Two plus years is a very long time. But, thankfully, much of that time has been under the watchful eye and guiding hands of a Sixers medical and coaching staff who did not allow Embiid to idle aimlessly. Finally, this season, we’ll have our chance to see the play of the young Cameroon who was worth risking Sam Hinkie’s career over.

While he is a natural center, I’m not entirely convinced that the team wants to park his re-engineered form under the basket exclusively and watch him wear down from the banging of big bodies. He’s been working on a mid range and perimeter shot, and in shooting drills he looks every bit the part of a young man who could pull off sliding to the four and allow the five to suit either Okafor or Noel. If that happens, he will add incredible value to the Sixers lineup with his versatility.

If that is not in the cards, he will rotate at center, perhaps starting the season with some strict minutes restrictions until he acclimates to the rigors of professional basketball. But whether off the bench or starting, whether at the five or at the four, Joel Embiid will create a great deal of match-up problems for the opposition. At least at 7’2″ and perhaps still growing, he will tower over all but a few NBA players. Sam Hinkie loved him. Philadelphia will too.

Forward Dario Saric

He’s 6’10” forward who can play either power forward or small forward role. Believed to be too slow to effectively play against small forwards exclusively, and too small to effectively play against power forwards exclusively, he’s another versatile and nebulous addition to a young and developing roster. But he’s too slow and too small, so why the excitement about his play?

Well, he does many things very well. For a big man, he’s blue collar through and through, displaying a great deal of physicality during the game which will automatically endear him to the city that craves passion and effort from her players. But he’s more than just a hard worker.

He can work a transition game to its fullest capacity. His passing is worth seeing, and will likely end up on highlight films throughout the year. That passing will help the team push the ball to the basket quickly, and that will supercharge the team’s fast break offense – a staple of any team influence by assistant head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Top Four Draft Pick

Now the lottery fun begins. In a Doomsday draft scenario, the Philadelphia select at four. We discussed this backbreaking scenario at length, but pointed out that even at this the team will get a starter. Well, if you believe the 2016 NBA draft top picks are (1) Ben Simmons, (2) Brandon Ingram, (3) Jaylen Brown, (4) Dragan Bender, (5) Kris Dunn, (6) Buddy Hield, (7) Jammal Murray. Add a name or subtract a name if you must, but this is the field. Of these seven players, the Philadelphia 76ers will have four to choose from in a worst case scenario. Since it is a small ball draft, the team will likely target a back court player. You will likely not have the option at either Simmons, Ingram, or Bender for that matter, but will do just fine with one of the remaining players.

The team will likely know what deals feel doable in free agency and with trading partners, and will augment players they can bring in by hitting their strongest prospect in this draft. You can check out our individual player analysis by clicking on their names below:
Ben Simmons
Brandon Ingram
Jaylen Brown
Dragan Bender
Kris Dunn
Buddy Hield
Jammal Murray

Los Angeles Lakers Pick

While the Philadelphia 76ers need the help now, another years delay to the Los Angeles Lakers pick until 2017 may be better for the overall development of this team. With so many new players on-boarding this year, the team will be working hard in developing the new rookie talents. That will distract the team, once more, from truly laying a strategic game plan out to face their next opponent. Meanwhile, the 2017 NBA draft is a stronger draft in the eyes of many, and that is a draft where the Sixers currenly hold just one first round draft pick.