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NBA’s Future: Which Teams Shine Brightest

By Zack Geoghegan

The Timberwolves boast a trio of young stars in Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Anthony-Towns. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Timberwolves boast a trio of young stars in Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Anthony-Towns. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers
NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers /

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers struck gold when they drafted Joel Embiid in 2014 with the third overall pick.

What was once an extremely controversial pick has turned into nothing but hope and excitement for Sixers fans.

Joel Embiid is a freak, an unstoppable force with Hall of Fame-type capabilities. Playing only 25 minutes per game due to restrictions placed on him by the team, he still manages to average 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.

He can step back and shoot the 3, go into the post and nail a hook shot, block any shot that comes near him, and is quick enough to stay in front of almost anyone.

There aren’t many flaws to his game (I would consider his Twitter account one of the best things about him) at the young age of 22. He is the future of not only the 76ers, but the NBA.

Lost in the Joel Embiid hype is, well, the rest of the team.

The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, Ben Simmons, will most likely miss the entire season due to injury, but his ceiling is yet to be defined (maybe because he hasn’t played?).

If Simmons can come in and be anything close to the player fans and scouts think he could be, his future will be fine. However, once again, he has yet to play an NBA minute, so as of now he is an unknown.

The Sixers’ group of young talent doesn’t just stop there. Players such as Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas and Nerlens Noel are all in their third or fourth year in the NBA and they have all shown that they are capable NBA players.

Covington has the potential to be an excellent two-way player in the NBA as his defense is already at an above-average level. Stauskas has become a reliable three point shooter compared to his first two seasons.

Nerlens Noel has been playing so well, especially on defense, that he straight up stole all of Jahlil Okafor’s minutes.

The other rookie, Dario Saric, is showing signs that he is bound to be an excellent stretch 4 and a prolific rebounder. He’s no Embiid, but then again, no one else is.

The list of young players goes on even longer. T.J. McConnell (who recently hit this nasty game-winner over Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis), Richaun Holmes, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Sergio Rodriguez and even Jahlil Okafor.

With plenty of draft picks over the next few years and so many players that could be used as trade bait (i.e., Okafor), the Sixers are set to shoot up the Eastern Conference standings and it may happen sooner rather than later.