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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Oct 20, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers power forward Arnett Moultrie (5) shoots against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers power forward Arnett Moultrie (5) shoots against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Desperate times, Foolish Measures

The pattern of win some, lose a little more continued until the Philadelphia 76ers began to realize the never ending cycle.  Over the course of time the team would play hard, and hope for the health of star guard Allen Iverson.  Eventually, the health of Iverson and the faith of the Philadelphia 76ers in their franchise guard failed, and the team would trade Iverson to the Denver Nuggets.

The team began the slow arduous restoration.  Eventually, players developed and the team began to win some games.   But success in the NBA is tough to maintain, and the executives realized that the team would never become better until they landed an elite player to build a team around.

With complimentary back court and wings on the roster in the form of Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, and Evan Turner, the team turned towards the front court.  They needed a post presence, a fortune changing player similar to what Moses Malone brought to the 1983 Sixers, or Dikembe Mutumbo had brought to the 2001 Sixers.   The team was desperate for a center, and one was within reach, if the team stretched ever so far…

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And so, on August 10, 2012, the team announced a massive block-buster four-team deal which shipped off Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets and shipped  forward Maurice Harkless and center Nik Vucevic to the Magic along with a protected first round pick.  In return, the 76ers obtained center Andrew Bynum and guard Jason Richardson.

But in their haste to obtain THE guy, everyone associated with the Philadelphia 76ers organization forgot to vett Bynum’s medicals.  Oops!

The star center needed a big man to pair up with. And so the spending spree of the Philadelphia 76ers continued on, sending their 45th pick of the draft and a future protected first round pick to the Miami Heat for the 27th pick of the 2012 NBA draft, Arnett Moultrie.

The Sixers mortgaged their future, but loaded up the team with young talent.

Next: Pride is Hard To Swallow