9:47am: The deal is official, the Sixers announced today (via Twitter).
7:17am: The Sixers and star center Joel Embiid are finalizing a four-year, super-max contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2026/27 season, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), the two sides have reached an agreement.
Embiid still has two years and $65.2MM left on his current contract, so his new deal will go into effect in 2023/24 and will have a starting salary worth 35% of that season’s cap. If we project a $125MM cap for ’23/24, Embiid’s extension would start at $43.75MM and would be worth $196MM over four years.
Embiid became eligible for a super-max extension when he earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team in June. Unlike his previous contract, the 27-year-old’s new deal will be fully guaranteed without any protection related to potential injuries, according to Shelburne.
The 76ers put language related to possible recurring foot and back issues in their prior agreement with Embiid because he had been limited to just 31 total games in his first three NBA seasons at the time he signed it. Since then, he has avoided major injuries, appearing in at least 51 regular season games in each of the last four years.
Embiid has also earned four All-Star berths and three All-NBA nods since signing his last extension and is coming off the best season of his NBA career. He put up 28.5 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.4 BPG on .513/.377/.859 shooting in 51 games (31.1 MPG), helping to lead Philadelphia to the No. 1 seed in the East.
Despite suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee during the first round of the postseason vs. Washington, Embiid only missed a single playoff game and had a big second-round series vs. Atlanta, averaging 30.4 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 2.0 BPG. However, it wasn’t enough to get the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Hawks won the seven-game series.
Embiid, who didn’t require surgery on his right knee after the season ended, represented himself in extension negotiations, per Shelburne.
The 76ers now have Tobias Harris locked up through 2024, Ben Simmons through 2025, and Embiid through 2027. The trio is earning a combined $100MM+ in 2021/22, and that number will only increase in future seasons.
Simmons’ future in Philadelphia remains very much up in the air, however — while there has been no indication that the Sixers have engaged recently in any serious trade talks involving Simmons, there are also no assurances he’ll be on the team’s opening-night roster this fall.
So appearing in just 51 games per season is now good? Even if you factor in the shortened seasons from the past two years, that ain’t good.
Well, the league didn’t play a full schedule the last two seasons and now stars are getting the ‘Pops’ treatment.
Has avoided major injury enough to appear in just over HALF THE GAMES for the last four seasons…
196 mil! I’m sure Joel loves that process!
I mean, if they were willing to give him a max deal after he appeared in 31 of 246 games in his first three seasons, I feel like the Sixers are probably pretty happy with 229 of 309 over the last four.
That’s every major star
That’s risky. He has a long injury history.
They didn’t really have a choice. You don’t offer the deal at first opportunity you risk alienating the player. You don’t sign him and let him go somewhere else, that’s the worst case. You trade him? Maybe you get a hail of players and pray that one becomes 3/4s the player embiid is
lol isn’t this EXACTLY what the idiots were saying when he got his 1st big contract. Face it, he’s the best player in the league, he deserves every last penny he gets
You’re right, probably have to lock him up…don’t want to upset him, especially with all the Simmons drama
He’s not the best player in the league, but he deserves the contract. 76ers biggest mistake was not resigning Jimmy Butler
*Best player in the league that’s never advanced past the second round.
Son he’s 26 got a long way to go .He just getting started.
Most overpaid trio in history? I think so.
The market determines the contract. Sixers don’t have to give it to him. To me makes not sense giving out max contracts. If you are not competing for a ring. Or building a team to win a ring. Sixers couldn’t even beat a 4th seed. That won’t be a 4th seed this yr. Morey has just told us Ben is gone. Ben is not showing up after all Embiid said about him. So this is Embiids team now.
You’re playing yourself if you don’t think another team would give Embiid a max contract if he were to hit unrestricted free agency.
He will always have injuries as an excuse for losing in postseason…. Simmons was a scapegoat for both Emblid and Doc Rivers. Pathetic losers.
Lol. U clearly don’t know/watch nba basketball if u think Embiid was the problem in the playoffs
He might have played better this year, but he disappeared at critical juncture of the games. He’s not a winner nor is Doc. They are more into just looking good in the regular season games.
You wish whatever pathetic team you pull for had the most physically dominant and still developing specimen in the game boy.
@Michol
30pts/14reb/4asst…. yeah clearly HE was the blame and not the guy shooting 10/6/8 on 60/0/33
Simmons was terrible, but Emblid wasnt good enough when it counted. They LOST to Hawks, enough said.
Embiid isn’t the best player in the league but he’s arguably the most dominant. Dude really turned it up this year, thought his shot selection really improved. Congrats to him, definitely deserved this.
Good assessment. Talent wise he isn’t the best in the league (still Lebron but the window is rapidly closing) but on nights when it’s all clicking for Embiid he is the most unstoppable player since Shaq.
Sometimes teams have no option so they have to pay stars
Blake Griffin, Wally from WallyWood
If I was a sixer fan this would make me sick. so much money locked up and for what? another early exit? smdh…Daryl Morey really “figured it out”
You would be silly to be upset. Who else should they spend the money on? he’s their best player and if they plan on trading Simmons then best to have Emmbiid locked down for more years.
Im willing to bet cash money this is a prelude to a Simmons trade. Embiid doesn’t want to play with Ben but the last thing the 76ers want to happen is to trade Simmons and then see Embiid walk in 2 years as a FA. This team is built around Embiid. Secure his long term stay then move Simmons. Be on the look out.
I don’t think it’s a prelude at all. I won’t disagree with anything else you said (I don’t totally agree with it either) but I don’t think we are close to a Ben deal at all.
Knew it was coming, I wanted it to happen and the Sixers had to do it. All that being said, I’ve never been more worried about a superstar signing an extension with a team I support in my life.
One of those guys you love to hate and would trade anyone to have…
No player should be worth over a third of your payroll. Could create issues down the stretch in regards to luring bigger names to the team.
Best player in the NBA and the most unstoppable deserves every penny.