The Sixer Sense
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Should Philadelphia 76ers Consider Center In 2017 NBA Draft?

By Bret Stuter

Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Now that the Philadelphia 76ers center rookie Joel Embiid has arrived, there is a risk to overestimating the team’s depth at center. Who should the Philadelphia 76ers look at in the 2017 NBA Draft as potential prospects?

The Philadelphia 76ers roster currently boasts four plus centers on the roster right now: Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Richaun Holmes. But in the rapid-changing world of the NBA, we know how quickly conditions can change.

Right off the bat, we know that, barring some unforeseen miracle, Nerlens Noel has likely burned a “look forward” only trail out of Philadelphia. As such, the team will likely lean more heavily on Richaun Holmes next season.

While the jury is still out on a pairing of Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, early trials suggest that the compatibility just isn’t happening as expected. Since the team was unable to blend a Nerlens Noel/Jahlil Okafor pairing, the conclusion may eventually lead the team to deal Jahlil Okafor this off-season as well.

And so, the team could look at a 2017-2018 season with Joel Embiid starting and Richaun Holmes playing reserve. That scenario begs for reinforcements from the nba draft.