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The 76ers have exercised team options for Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, and Nik Stauskas, the team confirmed. The move keeps all three under contract through the 2016-17 season. Keith Pompey was the first to report the news this morning.
Embiid, who will be entering his third NBA season next year, is set to make $4,826,120. He's yet to suit up for the Sixers as he recovers from a second surgery on his injured right foot, but Philadelphia is holding out hope he'll be able to eventually suit up, and show off the skills that made him the 3rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Regardless of the off the court issues, Embiid still has the potential to be a generational talent. He'll have one more team option for the 2017-18 season before being eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2018. I imagine the Sixers brass will opt to exercise that option as well, especially if he can hit the court next October.
Stauskas, originally selected by the Sacramento Kings in 2014, is set to make $2,993,040 in his third NBA season. In 73 games last season, he averaged 4.4 points on 36.5% shooting from the field. Picking up his option was a no-brainer as well. Even if he doesn't perform well this season, his salary is still dirt cheap. Some young shooters also take a little longer to find their stride, with Portland's C.J. McCollum as a prime example of that. Nik was dealing with back spasms that kept him out of Wednesday's season opener, but could be available Friday night against the Utah Jazz.
Noel's 2016-17 option, slated to pay him $4,384,490, is the last one Philadelphia can offer him before restricted free agency in the summer of 2017. He averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds last year, and put up a double-double Wednesday against the Boston Celtics. Noel is rather vital to the success of this team, and $4.38 million is a steal for the kind of value he brings.
Hollis Thompson was the only player not to have his 2016-17 option picked up, but he's not on the rookie wage scale. Therefore, Philadelphia does not have to exercise it by the October 31 deadline.