Should Philadelphia 76ers Consider Center In 2017 NBA Draft?

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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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

How Important Will Center Be?

Placing a priority on center today is not only difficult to do, it’s rather foolish. The variables which impact how important a center position will be in the 2017 NBA Draft will likely be made up of player health, attrition, fit, development, off-court issues, and the overall synergy between the team and each player on the roster at the center position.

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  • So why try?

    I’m glad you asked. The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of prospects scattered in various basketball venues today.

    With the past history of the team, there was never a limited supply of talent. The qualities of who piqued the team’s interest might have been the right shot mechanics in a video, it may have been the right height, weight, and wingspan to make a go of it. Whatever it was, there are plenty of qualified hopefuls out there.

    Some never made it past the first interview. Some were given an opportunity to play overseas while their skills further honed to NBA-caliber.

    The team has 6-foot-5 point guard Vasilije Micic and 6-foot-7 shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz playing in the Euroleague.  The team also has a few NBA hopeful prospects at the development league affiliate, the Delaware 87ers.