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*Photo via USA Today
For the past few years, the Philadelphia 76ers have made some questionable moves. They traded a veteran and elite defender in Andre Iguodala. They traded away a young All-Star point guard with a lot upside in Jrue Holiday, after his all star season. They even traded away the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter Williams, earlier this season. They are currently 17-53, and are well on their way to losing 60 games this season. The 76ers seemed to be in a state of flux, however with all that said, they are moving in the right direction.
Although the 76ers lost 53 games, they play hard and show up every single night. They lay it on the line every game, and their players play with heart.
Many people are aware of the dynamic young front line the 76ers have in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid. These two are the unquestioned future of the 76ers and could potentially be All-Stars, but it's the supporting cast that are pushing the 76ers in the right direction.
Let's start with their combo guard Tony Wroten. He was a steal in the 2012 draft, being selected 25th overall. Before he got injured this season, Wroten was averaging 16.9 points and 5.2 assists per game and having a great impact on this team. He can break down the defense and score at will. At only 21 years of age, Wroten is definitely a positive and will only continue to improve.
Another promising player for the 76ers is 24 year old forward, Robert Covington. He may be only averaging 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds, but his impact on the 76ers goes far beyond that. According to NBA.com, Philadelphia 76ers are seven points better with Robert Covington on the floor (95.7 points per 100 possessions), as opposed to when he's on the bench (88.9 points per 100).
With players like Robert Covington and Tony Wroten as well as the tandem of Embiid and Noel, the 76ers are in a good position to succeed in the future. To sweeten the pot, they should have a top five pick in this years' draft and could get promising athletes, such as Karl Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, or Jahlil Okafor.
The 76ers are moving in the right direction and with a dedicated coach, passionate players, and a great fanbase, we will return to the playoffs soon enough.