Another season, another year the Philadelphia 76ers failed to reach the playoffs.
On the surface, it might look like another lost season for the franchise. They finished near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings once again, and by March they were out of playoff contention. However, things are not bad as they might seem. For a franchise that became the laughing stock in the NBA, the Sixers are definitively on the right track.
First of all, they finally got to enjoy Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian big man spent his first two seasons injured, but he lived up to the hype in his rookie year. The 23-year-old only played 31 games, but he averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over 25.4 minutes per game. It’s safe to say he looked even better than advertised. And all signs indicate he will be a franchise cornerstone as soon as next season.
Second, they also found another gem in Dario Saric. Embiid and Saric were arguably two of the best rookies in the league during the regular season. However, the European elevated his game once Embiid missed the final stretch of the campaign. Saric averaged 12.8 points on 41% shooting to go along with 6.2 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per contest. And he also showed durability, missing just one game throughout the campaign. He won’t be a go-to player, but has the makings of a solid starter for years to come.
As if Saric and Embiid weren’t enough, Philadelphia also found some valuable rotation pieces. Robert Covington looks like a solid role player off the bench thanks to his scoring and shooting touch. Sergio Rodriguez proved he can thrive at the NBA level thanks to his outstanding court vision. And T.J McConnell could easily be the team’s point guard for years to come. There’s no question the Sixers are building something special, and it will get even better next season.
Aside from securing another lottery pick, Philadelphia will also have Ben Simmons available. The first-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft missed the entire season due to injury, but he’s been cleared to play and he should be ready to go for the 2017-18 season. There’s a reason why Simmons received comparisons to LeBron James, and there’s no question he will make the Sixers a more dangerous team on the offensive side of the ball.
Winning an NBA title or becoming a contender is still years away for the franchise. However, they could easily make the playoffs as soon as next season. That would represent a huge step forward for the franchise, as they were considered the laughingstock of the NBA as recently as last year.