NBA Hope Index: How far is each team from a ring heading into 2017-18?

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 12: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 6: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 6, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the 76ers 110-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

8. Philadelphia 76ers

Quick: you have to place a bet on which Eastern Conference franchise is going to make the most NBA Finals appearances over the next decade. You get the following odds: Boston 2/1, Milwaukee 5/1, Philadelphia 6/1, the field 4/1.

You have to take Philly, right? If Joel Embiid stays healthy, Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons play like league average first overall picks (a spot that produces roughly one HOF’er every three years on average), and they wisely use the enormous cap space they’ll have next summer, that’s easy money. They clearly know how to develop players and how to coach them up to fit their system.

So why are they not higher? For one, “If Joel Embiid Stays Healthy” might be the most overused NBA phrase of the next decade. Second, and not insignificant, is the fact that the Colangelos are running the show here. They did well to trade up to one, but they also got forty cents on the dollar for Nerlins Noel. The front office will need to do much better if the Sixers are going to make real noise moving forward.

Path to Glory: Pray to whatever God you believe in that Embiid doesn’t join the long list of NBA centers with all the talent in the world that could just never stay healthy, do some light tanking to nab one last lottery pick, sign Boogie and KCP next summer while also extending Embiid, and become the most fun young Eastern Conference team since the mid-90’s Magic.

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