With the 3rd Pick in the NBA Draft the Sixers select....
Jahlil Okafor. There is no doubt about it that Jahlil Okafor was the best
player on the board when the Sixers pick came up. Once again it was the Embiid
situation, do you pick the best guy available or do you take the position that
you need. Sam Hinkie and the Sixers went with Okafor. Which is now making many
people including experts scratching their heads. If you turn on NBA TV there is
one thing everyone is talking about, and that is who will be traded from the
Sixers big three. As someone from the outside looking in it can be very
confusing.
The question on everyone’s mind is how is this going to work
out, and who will play where. Well, folks the first issue before we even get
there is whether or not Joel Embiid will play next season. Embiid was a huge
risk when he was drafted and many experts said he would play for the Sixers.
However, this is now looking like a question mark. If the Sixers want to be
successful they will need Joel Embiid on the court for them. Now the newest
problem, that is on Brett Brown is figuring out how to work with the three bigs
in Philadelphia. When you have three unbelievable talents like Okafor, Embiid,
and Noel you are set in the middle. However, the problem that faces Brett Brown
is figuring out how to play all three at the same time. This issue may be
almost impossible to solve.
In reality the only one that could play the 3 would be Noel.
At the end of last season it became apparent that the Sixers started working with
Noel on his game away from the middle. Noel is also the fastest of the three
bigs, which is another positive. If you watched any college basketball last
season you would know how talented Okafor is and how he will impact the Sixers
in the future. There is no doubt he has the ability to control the middle
and can score with his back to the basket. The last player of the big three is
the wild card Joel Embiid. Embiid has a nice shot and can control the middle as
well, but the question is will he stay healthy and will he be able to work with
these other guys. However, it may or may not work and only time will tell.
Brett Brown is faced with a good problem. The Sixers have
drafted the three best players in the past three years. All three of these guys
were predicted at one point to be the 1st pick in the draft, and to
be the most impactful player. However, it is now going to be a waiting game to
see if it can work. Having three guys with their ability is a good thing,
however they may not work together. The next step is whether or not Sam Hinkie
is going to make a deal to bring in a true guard.
-Brett