In an interview, reported today by "ESPN: First Take," Joel Embiid told the press that believes his Philadelphia 76ers will make the NBA playoffs this season. This past weekend the team worked out Markelle Fultz who has been the No. 1 projected pick in the draft throughout his entire season in college at Washington. After the workout, Philly decided to make a trade with Boston Celtics to receive the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. On Monday, both the Sixers and Celtics announced that they have finalized the deal to swap the No. 1 and 3 picks.
The 76ers also threw in their 2018 pick they acquired through a trade that occurred a few seasons ago.
The pick will be used by Boston if it falls between No. 2 and 5. If not, then the Celtics could use their 2019 pick instead which they received via the Sacramento Kings.
The move for Philly has been well perceived around the league and fans have been as close to trusting the process than ever.
What Fultz will bring
Markelle Fultz is listed as a 6'4 195-pound point guard that has a well-rounded game and can score the basketball at a very high-level. A trait that Philly has not enjoyed since the years they had Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in the early 2000s. At the University of Washington, Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Those are very solid numbers for a point guard especially entering a league where point guard dominance has become highly important.
Although Fultz played for a team that was only able to win nine games in his one and done season, his explosiveness at the guard spot is exactly what the 76ers need to add to their already talented young core of stars.
"Trust the Process"
When Bryan Colangelo took over the position of President of Basketball Operations for the Sixers, he was left in good hands by the sacrifices former GM Sam Hinkie made while he held the position.
Hinkie was able to secure future assets that helped the team with its rebuilding process. In 2014, with the No. 3 and 14 picks, he drafted two players that most likely have the best chance at taking home this year's Rookie of the Year award in center Joel Embiid and forward Dario Saric. In 2015, with the No. 2 pick, he chose Jahlil Okafor who many had high expectations about.
Hinkie decided to resign from his position with Philly two months before the 2016 NBA Draft. A draft that the 76ers would eventually enjoy the luxury of having the No. 1 pick, something they were not able to do for 20 years since the drafting of Allen Iverson. The Sixers got the most talented player in the draft with Ben Simmons and added another talented guard in Timothe Luwawu Cabarrot.
With all the young talent the franchise has been able to add over the last three seasons, they did not wanna pass up on the opportunity to select the most talented player in the draft two years in a row. Adding a player with the upside Markelle has along with their current young core will make the Sixers a force to be reckoned with in the near future. With the lack of competition in the East, they should be a guaranteed playoff team this coming season with the level of talent they've been able to acquire.
