July 11, 2017
While I was listening to my favorite radio program today, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, a couple of notable things happened. One, Tim Kurkjian read a bunch of Pitbull lyrics, and two, the show got into a discussion about the Sixers. Specifically, they were talking about the team’s future.
This talk was prompted by the pictures of Joel Embiid making baseballs look like golf balls at the Home Run Derby. Le Batard then said on national radio what many Sixers fans have felt for a while:
LeBatard: “I don’t think people realize what an unbelievable freak Joel Embiid is. If Joel Embiid stays healthy, he’s going to be dominating that sport.”
Jon ‘Stugotz’ Weiner: “I don’t know if he’s going to dominate that sport. He’s going to be a really really good player.”
- MORE ON THE SIXERS
- Five thoughts about the Sixers potentially making the playoffs
- What they’re saying: Sixers moving up offseason NBA power rankings
- Joel Embiid caught a pair of Home Run Derby balls while hanging out with Meek Mill
- Phillies on pace to finish with worse record than Sixers for first time in 15 years
- Source: Sixers' Fultz suffered traditional sprain, could return to basketball activities in a week or two
LeBatard: “Stugotz, I’m telling you that if he stays healthy, he’s going to be an overwhelming force who is among the greatest to ever do it. If he’s healthy.”
We can debate what actually constitutes “dominating the sport,” but Le Batard’s point seems perfect reasonable. If Embiid can stay healthy (a huge, huge, massive if!), he should be an elite player and for as long as the Sixers have him under contract. And they should be a pretty darn good team, too.
Then the discussion flowed into a subject that would excite Sixers fans. If Embiid and the Sixers take a step forward this year, would Philly be LeBron James’ best chance at late-career titles if he decides to bolt Cleveland next year in free agency?
And Le Batard’s producer Mike Ryan made the case for LeBron to consider the Sixers over someone like the Lakers:
Ryan: “That would be the play, no, going there? It’s the fourth biggest market in the nation, Philadelphia, this is not some tiny market. Like we kept saying go to New York because you have Porzingis on an affordable contract. Well, they have Fultz, Saric, Simmons, Embiid, they have four of those guys if they all stay healthy and project to be what we project them to be. They have $40 million in space next season because they signed Redick to that one-year deal. They can clear more room by getting rid of that Bayless contract and Okafor deal. Like, that would be the play.”
Look, this is one of these mid-July topics that is more fun to bat around than think critically about. Embiid needs to stay healthy and the Sixers need to focus on improving from last year’s 28 wins this season. But if winning titles is LeBron’s only motivating factor (hint: it’s not), the Sixers could make a better free agency pitch than most teams next offseason.
Plus, they’re in the Eastern Conference!
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
Like the new PhillyVoice Sports page on Facebook
