The good news keeps rolling in for the Sixers.
First, the organization was awarded the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft at May's Draft Lottery, and now it seems as though their prized pick from the highly-hyped 2014 NBA Draft will be [finally] ready to contribute on court next season as well.
Joel Embiid was selected with the third overall pick in 2014, and was widely considered to be the top talent in the draft before lingering injury issues clouded his future in uncertainty. The Sixers' future has hinged on Embiiid's health since his selection, as he possess the potential to be a franchise-level talent, a la Karl Anthony-Towns. However, two straight seasons on the shelf have left some to doubt whether Embiid will ever be able to consistently contribute.
Embiid though appears confident in his own health heading into the '16-17 season – his third as a professional.
In the midst of the Western Conference Finals on Monday evening, Embiid posted a photo of himself sporting his Sixers jersey to his Instagram account with the caption: "Wish we could fast forward to the next season #FinallyHealthy #TrustTheNewProcess"
Embiid has to be pretty confident in his own health to post such a message publicly, especially considering the surrounding circumstances and pressure on him. By openly shopping Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, the Sixers are placing a lot of faith in Embiid as the franchise's front court future.
It is still not known whether Embiid will participate in the upcoming summer leagues, but all signs point to him being ready to go for the season's start.
The possibility of adding two potential franchise-caliber talents in a single offseason is extremely exciting for a team coming off of several consecutive seasons of struggle. The Sixers busy summer is off to a solid start.
