REASON II: He knew Joel Embiid was “the guy” and would build the team around him.
From the moment Joel Embiid became a probability,the direction of the Philadelphia 76ers changed ever so slightly. The team’s approach went from “search” mode to “synch” mode. Knowing Joel Embiid’s arrival would be delayed, all other enhancements to the team were timed to fall in line with that same timeline.
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Dario Saric was selected, and he was known to be available in the NBA two years later. Nerlens Noel was migrated from star center into a versatile and defensive center/power forward. The team took on versatile Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas, T.J. McConnell. All of whom are players who need time to develop.
No Free Agents
The team avoided free agency. Free agency addressed immediate needs and consumed cash. The Philadelphia 76ers wanted to save cash for “the mega-deal” player, and free agency would not fit the team’s needs for tomorrow’s star.
Joel Embiid was the heir apparent. Lining up the power forward compliment for Embiid would only happen after the team had Joel Embiid settled in as the Philadelphia 76ers star center.