5 Young NBA Stars Whose Primes Are Being Wasted On Terrible Teams

Joel Embiid, C – Philadelphia 76ers

I know this may seem a bit premature, but we’ve all seen the elite combination of skills Joel Embiid possesses. Unfortunately, the future is still bleak for the Process considering he’s playing for the 76ers.

Sure, they’ve been a slightly better team this season after finishing the 2015-16 campaign with a pitiful 10-72 mark. Still, based on their early-season performance, I don’t foresee a playoff appearance in the near future.

It’s disappointing, because Embiid has the potential to be a gamebreaker. Not only is he a dominant post presence with his hulking size and athleticism, but he’s more than capable of stretching the floor with his uncommon range for a big man. The Kansas product can sink shots from downtown all day if you let him.

While there’s still some hope for Philadelphia when Ben Simmons returns, I just don’t see this team contending anytime soon. The rebuild is still a couple of seasons away from coming to fruition, which means Embiid will continue to watch his early years as a rising NBA superstar go to waste.

Don’t expect the 76ers to let him go, especially with Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor considered trade candidates. I’d guess Embiid will be in Philly for a long time, which limits his chances of ever competing for a title.