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Joel Embiid says he’s 100 percent for 2016-17 NBA season (Video)

By John Buhler

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid says that he is finally 100 percent healthy entering the 2016-17 NBA season. Embiid has yet to play in an NBA game.

The Philadelphia 76ers used their No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on an injured center from Kansas in Joel Embiid. Embiid was great for a bit during his only year with the Kansas Jayhawks, but has yet to appear in an NBA game since being drafted two years ago.

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Marc Narducci shares a video of Embiid saying that he’s at 100 percent and can’t wait to make his NBA debut for the 2016-17 76ers.

Well, Philadelphia better hope that Embiid is close to 100 percent, as the 76ers organization need to know what they have in their young center. Embiid is a seven-footer with a strong defensive tenacity. Should he click in head coach Brett Brown’s defensive schematics, it could help make either big man Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor available for trade.

Noel has asserted himself as a strong rim protector already. Okafor has had off the court issues, but was an offensive behemoth during his one year at Duke University. Embiid’s improving health could make either big man expendable.

Philadelphia won 10 games last season, but should be better in 2016-17. The 76ers will have two exciting rookies in 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons and Croatian standout Dario Saric joining the team. Embiid would be classified as a rookie in 2016-17 should he appear on the floor for the 76ers.

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The 76ers are almost certainly not an Eastern Conference Playoff team this year, but could more than double their win total from 2015-16 in 2016-17. They should win 20 games, maybe closer to 25 or as high as 30 should Simmons and Saric pop as rookies for coach Brown.