Following up on reporting over the weekend that suggested Joel Embiid might require another surgery to address a nagging left knee injury, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a TV appearance on Get Up (YouTube link) that there’s not necessarily a consensus among the experts the Sixers center has consulted about the best way to put that knee issue behind him.
“I know that people would like this to be a cut-and-dry issue — you either need knee surgery or you don’t,” Windhorst said. “That’s not necessarily clear here. He has seen a number of specialists. There isn’t a clear path on how to resolve this issue.
“He’s still playing, obviously. They’ve got him playing. If they thought he needed knee surgery, trust me, the Sixers would have dealt with it. He’s playing right now, and he signed this $193MM contract extension. He’s under contract now for five years for $300MM. They have to get this right. And right now, they have no option. They have to figure this out.”
As Windhorst notes, Embiid is now locked up through at least the 2027/28 season, with a player option for ’28/29 worth a projected $69MM. Given that huge financial commitment the Sixers made to the former MVP, they have to do all they can to get him back to full health, since it makes little sense to try to trade him while value is at a low.
“He’s not tradable right now. That contract makes his value… it’s not realistic,” Windhorst said. “And just on Friday, Daryl Morey, their team president, coming out of the trade deadline still reaffirms, ‘We think he’s a top-five player. We don’t regret signing Paul George.’
“The future going forward is around Joel Embiid, so he’s doubled, tripled, quadrupled down on it, and he really has to because that contract makes it impossible. They have to figure out a way to get him right. Trust me, they’re trying. They are seeking all kinds of alternatives trying to make it happen.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Speaking of George, the Sixers forward admitted after Tuesday’s loss to Toronto that adjusting to playing alongside Embiid this season has “definitely been challenging,” per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “But I’m here to learn and figure it out,” George said. “He’s an unbelievable talent. He makes the game easy with just his presence, his attention that he draws. But it’s been a challenge.” Sixers lineups that feature both George and Embiid have a -4.2 net rating so far this season.
- Jusuf Nurkic will be available on Wednesday to make his Hornets debut vs. Orlando, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran center will be on a minutes restriction. Nurkic, traded from Phoenix to Charlotte last week, hasn’t played since January 7. With Mark Williams back on the roster following the voided trade with the Lakers, Nurkic likely won’t have as significant a role, but Williams won’t be active on Wednesday, having been listed on the injury report as “not with team.”
- Speaking about the trade-deadline addition of Jericho Sims, Bucks general manager Jon Horst referred to the center as a “fourth big,” but expressed enthusiasm about Sims’ athleticism, offensive rebounding, and ability to make an impact in transition, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “It may or may not be an every night role, but it’s kind of based on matchups, it’s based on need,” Horst said of Sims’ role. “If guys get injured or guys are out, he’s a guy that can step in, and you feel confident with him playing.”
“He makes the game easy… but it’s been a challenge.” ?
PHI should’ve just tabled Embiid and tanked for next year since their draft pick ’25 is Top 6 protected, otherwise going to OKC. And maybe reconstruct their roster this year.
Too late for all that
They would only have a 52% chance of keeping the pick if they did miraculously make it to 6th worst record anyway.
Your just going to have to settle for good ole fashion trying to win games in Philly rest of season. I hope that doesn’t cause too much friction in the locker room/fanbase moving forward
Yeah, it’s def too late now. Just wondering how soon they knew how bad that knee was … you could just see during the Olympics his knee was bad and he wasn’t in the best conditioning either.
That’s def an albatross of a contract too and PG hasn’t looked great either. The Warriors def dodged a bullet on trading for him lol.
August 11th
Embiid’s injury is a career-ender, there’s no way around it. His knees are wrecked for life. He can play through it until he can’t. That likely means missing most of a regular season for the next few years, praying they can limp to the 10th seed and play Joel til he breaks.
Morey is once again, one of the dumbest and worst people involved in the NBA right now.
Sixers should talk to Thunder before draft. Work out a deal to get back their pick. Thunder don’t need a top 10-14 pick. They have more than enough picks.
In the old days. You have a PF who’s job it is. To keep players away from your star. Do the banging and heavy lifting. A bigs weakness are his legs. And they are most vulnerable on the perimeter. With the lateral movement and stop and go moves.
Considering all his issues with injuries. You’d think Embiid would have invested in his conditioning and gealth. You’d think the Sixers would have done it for him. Or make him do it. You’d think with Embiids history of injuries. Both he and the team would have addressed this from day ONE. He was drafted INJURED ……….
link to sportingnews.com
They apparently cannot make a trade with the Thunder for that pick. Which is why they didn’t do a deal at the deadline. I do not know about draft night tho.