Trusting the Process

In large part thanks to social media sensation and likely rookie of the year Joel Embiid, "Trust the Process" has become a well known phrase in the basketball universe. Because of Embiid's goofy personality, many fans see the phrase as a joke stemming from ex-GM Sam Hinkie, who started the extreme rebuilding process in Philadelphia with strong criticism from much of the fan-base.

Hinkie stepped down during last season do to the building pressure to "win now", and to abandon "the Process", but it's starting to look like he was on to something.

Just a month after Hinkie's resignation the 76ers landed the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which they turned into Ben Simmons. The beginning of the 2016-17 also brought the beginning of former #3 overall pick Joel Embiid, whose Twitter bio reads "PROCESSING.......................". Due to injury (much like Embiid), Simmons is yet to make his NBA debut, but the Sixers have made some impressive strides without their #1 pick.

With 28 games remaining, the Sixers have doubled their win total from a season ago, and are only five games out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their success is in large part thanks to Embiid's play, at 20-34 overall, the Sixers are 13-18 when Embiid plays. Despite a minutes restriction (playing only 25.4 minutes per game), Embiid is averaging 20.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks, on 47% shooting, and most surprisingly 37% from three point range.

Now with Top-3 picks from each of the past three drafts, it would be easy to think "the Process" should be complete, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The Sixers would currently have the 4th pick, with the option to swap spots with the Sacramento Kings if they are in the Top-10. 

More importantly, the Sixers also have a pick from a move that Hinkie got a huge deal of grief for, when he traded reigning Rookie-of-the-Year Michael Carter-Williams in a three team trade that landed the Sixers a Top-5 protected pick originally part of the Steve Nash to the Lakers trade. After the Lakers getting the #2 pick each of the last two years, the pick is now only Top-3 protected, meaning the Sixers could conceivably have two picks in the Top 5.

With Simmons and Embiid holding down the front court, this year's draft is perfect for the Sixers needs, loaded with guard talent at the top. If the Lakers pick does fall into the hands of the Sixers this June, Philly will have the luxury of choosing two of the likes of Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith, Josh Jackson, De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Jonathan Isaac to round out their young core.

The draft potential this year for the Sixers gives them the possibility of a starting lineup with at least four players 23 years old or younger (if not all five), with Embiid and Simmons already being tagged as future NBA All-Stars. 

When Embiid has been healthy, this year's Sixers team has already shown glimpses of what the future holds, and with the return of Simmons and another incoming lottery pick, Hinkie's process looks likely to bring a playoff team to Philadelphia as early as next year.