By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Summer League has come and gone. The Olympics have now done the same. Up next for basketball fans in Philadelphia is training camp and 76ers preseason beginning on October 4 against the Celtics at the University of Massachusetts. This upcoming season has a lot of people excited, and rightfully so.
Ben Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick from this year's draft, will be exciting to watch. Dario Saric's transition from Euroleague ball to the NBA should be an interesting storyline. The big man surplus of Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, who is expected to debut this preseason, is one of the top headlines. Okafor attended some of the Summer League as did Embiid, who has also been actively posting workout videos and Instagram's of him and his new teammate Ben Simmons. Nerlens Noel is a story within himself. Rumors have surfaced that the Sixers center, known best for his defense, is open to a trade. If Bryan Colangelo is smart though, he'll hang on to Noel and Okafor until there's a strong indication that Joel Embiid is fully recovered. Also, don't forget about No. 24 overall pick Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who could be an asset to the team this year when it comes to long range shooting.
With all of the stories surrounding the team this season, we must set our expectations realistically. Will the team win more than 10 games? Probably. Will they win 20? There's a strong chance. 25 wins? Don't put your money on it. Despite all of the exciting additions to the team, whether it be Simmons, Saric or a healthy Embiid, the 76ers still lack a scorer, which will lose them a fair amount of games in the coming season. That shouldn't put a damper on too much though, because the Sixers should be an exciting team to watch this year, whether they win more than last season or not.
Realistically speaking, a good projected win total for the Sixers in 2016-17 would be anywhere from 15-20. It's a tough thing to swallow, but this season is still another year of player development and seeing what pieces will be a part of the team moving forward. Next year's NBA Draft holds plenty of significance as well, so while the Sixers may not look like they are "tanking" anymore, they have a realistic potential to nab two picks in the top five, if the Lakers pick they own conveys.
In addition to the new faces on the team, which also includes Olympic bronze medalist Sergio Rodriguez, there are two second year players that could have integral roles with the team this season. The most exciting one is Richaun Holmes. Despite the handful of big men that the Sixers have under contract, Holmes offers them a versatile option off the bench that gives the team energy and explosiveness at the rim. After missing a chunk of games towards the end of the season last year, Holmes appeared in the Summer League for Philadelphia and looked great on both ends of the ball. In eight games, he averaged 10.9 points, four rebounds and 2.8 blocks in Summer League play.
"I feel that I can bring energy and things that you can control like hustle and effort," Holmes told LibertyBallers.com in an exclusive interview. "I can play with as much energy as I possibly can and let the rest of [my game] speak for itself. Being active around the rim, being able to catch and finish offensive rebounds…that's big time. I think in the NBA that's going to be a part of my role and my NBA career as well. I want to bring that every game."
The other second year guy to keep an eye on is T.J. McConnell. Although the Sixers added Rodriguez, Jerryd Bayless and Gerald Henderson, McConnell should start the season as the backup point man, with Bayless and Henderson splitting time at shooting guard. In eight games in the Summer League, the undrafted free agent from Arizona averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Third year Sixers Robert Covington and Jerami Grant also have a lot to prove with Covington expected to provide a solid amount of scoring and Grant being able to protect the rim off the bench.
The upcoming season for the Sixers is one of the most crucial in what has been a tough and exhausting rebuilding process for players, coaches and the front office. There's no doubting the excitement that will surround this team in the coming year, but fans should expect a fair amount of growing pains on a team that will have to figure out a solution to their big man problem sooner rather than later.
