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Joel Embiid Makes Cameo at Brandon Ingram Workout

Brandon Ingram performed a workout Monday for the team, one day after meeting with Sixers brass and players at a dinner in Rittenhouse Square. However, he wasn't the only high-upside talent to grace the court.

By Jake Hyman
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The past two days for the Philadelphia 76ers have been devoted to NBA prospect Brandon Ingram and acclimating him to Philadelphia's culture and system. Sunday night, Ingram ate dinner with head coach Brett Brown, among other members of the Sixers' brass, and multiple Sixers players.

Rittenhouse Square is a truly scenic area in Philadelphia and the dinner appeared to be casual, with Ingram wearing a t-shirt and pants. (Someone help me identify those shoes.)

However, Monday was all business at PCOM. Ingram displayed his offensive tools to Sixers management in hopes of appealing to the organization, with Philadelphia doing their due diligence by not writing off every prospect not named Ben Simmons at pick No. 1. Ingram previously worked out for the Lakers last week, but there's something to gain for Philadelphia also having a glimpse of Ingram's progression in the offseason and his abilities in person. The Duke product's upside stems from his prowess as a jump shot shooter on the wing and ability to create offense. He attempted to highlight that Monday.

Philly.com's Keith Pompey cut up Ingram's workout spot-up shooting, as the 18 year-old found rhythm on his attempts after struggling initially.

Ingram also leaked out to the perimeter to attempt triples for the Sixers, an area many can envision him doing at the next level for the team who drafts him.

On three-point attempts during his lone campaign at Duke, Ingram connected on 41 percent of his three-point looks, as opposed to just 36.6 percent on two-point jump shot attempts. On catch-and-shoot triples manning the 3 or operating as a stretch-4 in the association, Ingram has offensive versatility that could lead to effective possessions. Like Jahlil Okafor, one year earlier, Ingram was instrumental in Duke's explosive offense.

Okafor, among others, was in attendance Monday, possibly viewing his next teammate and the offensive upside he possesses. It is the draft and not free agency, as Okafor is still a hypothetical selling point for Ingram to join Philly and thrive, but it's a positive scenario when current players gauge prospects' talents in person.

Near the end of his workout, PhillyVoice.com's Rich Hofmann took footage of Ingram attempting free throws, an area he struggled in-for a wing-at Duke (68.2 percent)

Brett Brown also talked with Ingram following his workout, as the fourth-year coach tried to get more intel on the Sixers' next possible star and extract as much value from being in the presence of Ingram.

Following Ingram's imperative workout for the Sixers, general manager Bryan Colangelo, who'll be the most scrutinized figure in Philadelphia sports in the next two weeks, opened up to the media regarding the draft. Colangelo is reportedly trying to schedule a workout with Simmons before the draft and said that the point-forward wants to be the first overall pick next Thursday.

Colangelo also relayed information regarding Embiid's possible stint at the Summer League, acknowledging that the 7-foot-2 Cameroonian won't make his professional debut in July. It definitely stunts Embiid's awaited ascension towards playing in the association, but the behemoth impressed in his individual workout Monday, quashing any rumblings of the big man failing to reclaim pieces of his diverse game during a lost season.

Embiid looked spry and electric on the floor, absorbing contact and finishing his looks. The athleticism evidently showed on the windmill slam dunk and the moment itself is a brief example of the dexterity Embiid possesses with the ball in his hands.

Sam Hinkie's route of prioritizing player safety appears to be resonating with Colangelo (possibly), whose holding out Embiid until the regular season and not having a deja vu experience similar to last offseason's debacle. Joel Embiid wasn't there to seize the luster of Ingram's performance, but his brief, enticing cameo was a nugget that fosters optimism.

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