Ahh, the Summer League. A time where we finally get to see the top players of the next generation in action. The Summer League is consisted of first and second year players, most likely the team’s top draft picks. Recently, the 76ers just wrapped up their summer play with a combined record of 2-6 between the Utah and Las Vegas Leagues. Although their record doesn’t show, some real strides were made during those 8 games.

First, Jahlil Okafor did not disappoint. The big man averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds a game, while doing his best to keep the Sixers in the games. He showed off his impressive footwork and post game, which Philadelphia fans can’t wait to see in the winter. A player that also performed well in Utah was Jordan McRae. McRae was a second round pick of the Sixers last year, but he decided to play his first year over in Australia, to get some more seasoning. This year, he looks to play a prominent role for the 76ers as a scoring, facilitating guard. After all, the 6-5 Guard averaged over 20 ppg in Australia, while he dropped 15 ppg in the summer. Finally, one last player who made an impression on me was Furkan Aldemir. Who? Exactly. Furkan came over to the Sixers half way through the season from Turkey. If there is one thing Furkan showed he could do last year, it was rebound. And it carried over into the summer as the big man averaged 13 rebounds a game, leading the league. He also showed some offensive game which didn’t exist during the season last year. He also nailed a couple threes. If he can get that into his arsenal next season, he will play a bigger role than just a body to grab boards.

Final Thoughts, The strides several Sixers showed in the Summer League didn’t exactly result in wins. Never the less, these games don’t matter at all. It was a first taste to see our top pick in action. A chance for a player to make a statement on his game, and another who showed he may have more value than originally thought. That’s the greatness of the Summer League, we have the opportunity to have our questions and thoughts answered 4 months before the season starts. Now we must wait until November, but hey, at least we have a good idea of what to expect out the players for the upcoming season.

Last week, 76ers’ fans and NBA fans were shocked by the news of Joel Embiid and the fact that there is a real chance he misses the 2015-2016 season. Now this is a huge blow to a 76ers team that really did plan on Joel to start the year along side Nerlens Noel at center. The news was broken by 76ers beat reporter Keith Pompey via Twitter. “According to sources, #Sixers center Joel Embiid will have a second surgery and is likely to miss 2015-2016 season.” With Embiid likely out another year, the Sixers are faced with a difficult situation. Do they move on from Embiid and leave him out of their rebuilding plan or do they wait another year and hope he develops into the franchise center his potential has them to believe?

It truly is a tough decision to make, for each choice will now be center around Joel Embiid’s health and whether or not he is able to return to action. It certainly does look like the Sixers were prepared for such a scenario, as they drafted Duke Center Jahiil Okafor with the number 3 overall pick in this year’s draft. Now although the 76ers already have two centers on their roster (Noel and Embiid), Jahiil Okafor was the best pick they could of made. The Sixers draft picks in recent years have been made off the idea of “best player available” mentality. Okafor was obviously the best player available and after Okafor, the talent and potential of each player after dropped significantly. Plus, Okafor is an established center, and unlike Noel and Embiid, will be able to play his first season and make a serious impact.

If the 76ers do decide to stick with Embiid, will having two talented big men on the floor (Noel and Okafor) and one game changing center (Embiid) coming off the bench really be a bad thing. They can always experiment having all three on the team and see if it will work out. If not, they can trade one of them and receive another highly coveted draft pick to help the rebuild get back on course. With the Embiid injury, the Sixers aren’t necessarily back where they started. They still have tons of draft picks, a boat load of cap space, and a young developing roster with already two cornerstone players (Noel Embiid).

Obviously, the injury to Embiid is heart breaking and really hurts the Sixers development THIS year. But with another top 5 pick next year, along with 3 more first rounder’s, the ability to sign a marquee free agent, and the possible return of Embiid, the 76ers are still in good position for the 2016-2017. Add in the fact that Dario Saric will finally come from overseas that season, and the Sixers look to be poised for a playoff berth with or without Joel Embiid.

The Philadelphia 76ers are an abomination.  Scratch that, they are an atrocity to the game of basketball and an embarrassment to the NBA. Their roster is a never ending carousel of low level NBA players and D-Leaguers who essentially have the opportunity to strut there stuff in hopes of earning another 10 day contract.

That’s something a Sixers hater or a fan of the other 29 NBA teams might say.

I know with me being a die hard Sixer fan, my stand point might sound a little bias, but I can guarantee the Sixer will win an NBA Championship in the next 5 years.

Hear me out.

Between now and 2021, the Sixers have 10 first round picks and 12 second round picks. In next years draft, they have the opportunity to have 4 first round picks if all goes according to plan. They will have their own pick along with the Lakers’ pick (top-3 protected), the Heat’s pick (Top-10 protected), and the Thunder’s pick (Lottery protected).  That’s four opportunities to strike gold in the first round.  Four chances to get a first round talent that can help contribute to an already young budding core.

So they are good on draft picks.

Now the team they have now is obviously not capable of winning a championship next year. I mean they were a combined 37-127 in the last two years. But they do have some intriguing pieces in place. First off, they have a defensive force in Nerlens Noel. If the rookie of the year was decided off second half stats, Nerlens Noel would have walked away with the hardware after averaging 13.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg, and 2.0 spg after the All- Star break. The only other rookie to average 2 blocks per game and 1.5 steals per game was David Robinson back in 1989. Then they have an offensive minded center in Jahlil Okafor, whose post game and footwork is something that hasn’t been seen out of a big man in college since Tim Duncan out of Wake Forest in 1997. With his 270 pound frame, he has the ability to abuse defenders in the paint, and has the basketball I.Q. to kick it out to shooters when he gets double teamed.

And have you seen his hands?

That’s a regular sized basketball… my goodness.

And let’s not forget about the crown jewel in Joel Embiid. Even though he has a history of injuries, the potential this kid has is through the roof. He has the ability to be both better than Noel on defense and Okafor on offense. He can block your shot, dribble down the floor as you try to steal the ball from him, and then throw it down on you leaving you wondering why you even tried to go for the block. Scouts compare his game to Hakeem Olajuwon and he even has the ability to stroke it from 3 when open.

Yeah

If you have three young, foundational players on your team that are being compared to hall of famers like Robinson, Duncan, and Olajuwon, then I think you’re in good hands.

And let’s not forget about Dario Saric. The 12th overall pick in last year’s draft is stashed overseas playing for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball League where he is averaging 10 ppg to go along with 6 rpg. The Croatian Sensation is expected to come over to the Sixers at the beginning of the 2016-2017 season.

So they are set on young talent.

What else do they need that could set them over the top?

Oh Yeah, Cap Space! The Sixers are among the top 10 teams when it comes to available money to spend. Being a part of these select group of teams allows them to be creative in free agency. Sam Hinkie, Sixers GM,  could of threw all the money in the world at Kawhi Leonard or offered Jimmy Butler a max contract, but that’s not part of the process. The plan is to stockpile draft picks in hopes one or two of those picks become superstars. Then, once the team starts becoming a playoff team, that’s when you bring in another big piece in free agency to compliment your already young core.

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team on the rise. They have a plethora of draft picks, young developing talent, and the freedom to spend big in free agency. Add in the fact that they have one of the best coach’s in the league in Brett Brown (don’t judge him by their record, Greg Popovich could of coached this team those two years and they’d still be a top 5  lottery team), and you have the recipe for success.

The Philadelphia 76ers will win an NBA Championship in the next 5 years. So if I were you, I would jump on the bandwagon now before it is too late.