The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Joel Embiid Is The Anti-Andrew Bynum

By Bret Stuter

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) sits on the bench during the first half of game seven of the SEC tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) sits on the bench during the first half of game seven of the SEC tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

At the cusp

The Sixers were never about getting the top pick of the NBA draft. The goal was simply to create and maintain a steady stream of picks to ensure player options going forward.  It is simply a fact that a top consensus is not always a lock to achieve greatness in the NBA.

The team is anything but a championship team right now.  But the moving parts are far too numerous to detail at the moment. This team, robust with youthful potential, will see some blossom.  Of 15 on the roster, this team needs three to reach their career apex.  Nobody can guarantee who that will be, or when.  But as long as the team keeps the stream flowing, pouring in new talent , assessing them with the most advanced technologies available, and surrendering the players who will likely not end up elite, this team is on the path.

That is the reason why the Philadelphia 76ers set up the 24 and 26 picks of this draft as well, picks that we know were fully intended to be used.  No gut nor intuition, merely the best player available who has a statistically measurable chance of becoming elite in the NBA some day.

While the path to veterans through trades or free agency adds wins now, it does nothing to add one of the three elite players (96%, 90% and 79%).  They never make it to the free market.

The Philadelphia 76ers banked everything on Andrew Bynum being THE guy, and lost that bet.  Today’s Philadelphia 76ers may believe that Joel Embiid is THE guy as well, but they’ve hedged their bet on the presence of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor at the center position.  Should Embiid fail to be ready for the 2016-2017 NBA season, or fall to injury during the long 82 game season, what a stroke of forethought it would be to have two NBA ready starting centers to take over.

Joel Embiid is every bit the NBA center prospect to the Philadelphia 76ers that Andrew Bynum was at that time.  Somehow, the fact that he was selected by the outcast of the NBA Hinkie has made this a matter of Sixers cult fanaticism to believe he might be a very good center.

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