Joel Embiid

Atlantic Notes: Morris, Knicks, Embiid, George, Nets

October 1st, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran forward Marcus Morris has decided not to rejoin the Knicks on a new training camp deal after being waived by New York over the weekend, tweets James L. Edwards of The Athletic. Ian Begley of SNY.tv confirms (via Twitter) that Morris has declined an offer to return to the Knicks.

Morris’ release appeared to be a logistical move that would allow the Knicks to open up the roster spots needed to complete the sign-and-trades involved in their Karl-Anthony Towns trade with Minnesota. There would be nothing stopping the veteran forward from re-signing with New York once that deal is official.

However, as Edwards explains, the financial restrictions created by the Towns trade will make Morris less likely to make the Knicks’ regular season roster, so he’s looking to join a new team before the NBA’s season begins three weeks from Tuesday.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

The Knicks made a series of splashy, ill-fated roster moves earlier in the 21st century, but the trade for Towns is something different, according to Howard Beck of The Ringer, who makes the case for why this big swing actually makes sense for the organization.
Having expressed on Monday that his number one goal this season is to make sure he’s healthy for the playoffs, Sixers center Joel Embiid told reporters that the quality and depth of the team’s roster should take some pressure off him during the regular season, as Aaron Carter of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays. “In the past, I felt like I had to (take over),” Embiid said. “This year, I don’t think I’m going to have to do it, unless I have to do it. So I really have a lot of confidence in these guys to figure it out and for me to just use myself as a decoy to allow (them) to be themselves and be good at what they do best.”
Discussing his fit in Philadelphia, new Sixers wing Paul George said this will be the first time that he’s played alongside “an elite point guard and elite big man all at once,” per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Like Embiid, George is bullish on the idea that the Sixers’ stars and quality role players can all make life easier for one another. “Having the floor spaced around (Tyrese Maxey) and myself, being able to play off a big man and play in transition with Tyrese, I think all three of us can flow and make the game easy for all of us,” George said. “I love sharing the ball and I love being aggressive to score. So I kind of think all three of us look at the game the same way.”
The Nets are using an unflattering over/under line from oddsmakers (19.5 wins) as motivation as they prepare for the 2024/25 season, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “I find it disrespectful. Just because we’ve got a lot of guys that people don’t know doesn’t mean we’re going to win just 19 games,” center Day’Ron Sharpe said on Monday. “You can’t be one foot out and one foot in. I’m trying to win as many games as possible and a lot of people are going to doubt us and we’re gonna show them.”

Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Drummond, Bridges, Celtics

September 30th, 2024 at 3:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Sixers center Joel Embiid told reporters at Monday’s media day that he has dropped “25 to 30 pounds” during the offseason and that staying healthy in 2024/25 is his number one goal entering this fall, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

“I still got a ways to go. I still want to lose more, but it’s a process,” Embiid said. “As soon as we lost last year, I just texted (Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey) and I was like, ‘We got to do whatever it takes to make sure that in the postseason I’m healthy.’ So this year is all about (that).”

Embiid has made seven straight All-Star teams and five total All-NBA teams in addition to winning a pair of scoring titles and 2023’s Most Valuable Player award. While he has expressed pride in some of those accolades in the past, he made it clear on Monday that individual awards are far down his list of goals in 2024/25.

“There’s no agenda, there’s no All-Star, there’s no All-NBA, there’s none of that,” Embiid said. “It’s whatever it takes to make sure that I get to that point and I’m ready to go because … basically every single year in my career, I’ve been hurt in the playoffs. So that’s the goal, and it’s all about doing whatever it takes to get there.”

Adding a star like Paul George and so many other players to the roster will require an adjustment period this fall, so it’s not as if the Sixers can put Embiid in bubble wrap until the spring. Morey acknowledged on Monday that finding a balance between managing the star center’s minutes and making sure the new-look roster has plenty of opportunities to establish chemistry will be important.

“We’re going to be really smart about it,” Morey said. “Obviously, we’re very focused on April, May and June. That doesn’t mean that the time right now isn’t very important as well, but we’re going to be very smart about how we manage him through the season. There’s going to be a lot of information, as we learn about how everything’s working with the entire roster.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

Appearing at the Sixers‘ media day on Monday, veteran center Andre Drummond reiterated his belief that he’s “the best rebounder to ever play the game,” as Sean Barnard of Fox Sports The Gambler in Philadelphia relays (via Twitter). As we noted last September when Drummond made a similar claim, his career rebounding percentage (25.1%) ranks first in NBA history.
Speaking on the most recent episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Bobby Marks says he doesn’t expect Knicks forward Mikal Bridges to sign a contract extension prior to the start of the season. “The indication I’ve gotten just from talking to people is that there is not going to be an extension, that he will wait until next year to look at what the extension,” Marks said (hat tip to RealGM). “… Because he’s limited as far as the six-month rule as far as what he can extend for. Next year, he can extend for four years. It just gives him more flexibility. That could certainly change by October 21st. Maybe this (Karl-Anthony Towns) trade does change that thinking. This was talking to people before this trade happened.” As Marks alludes to, the most lucrative extension Bridges can sign before this season is for two years and about $61MM. Next offseason, he could get up to $156MM over four years.
The Celtics‘ sale process is expected to begin accelerating this week, a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. According to Himmelsbach, the banks facilitating the sale are set to contact a group of individuals that includes both potential buyers who have expressed interest in the team and “other qualified buyers who have been targeted by the sale facilitators.”

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Roster Questions, New Arena

September 29th, 2024 at 1:41pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Last week, All-Star Sixers center Joel Embiid inked a three-season, $192.9MM contract extension that runs through 2028, with a player option for ’28/29. According to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer, this agreement is the latest example of a newfound stability in Philadelphia under team president Daryl Morey.

Mizell notes that, even with Embiid’s lengthy injury history, it was practically a given that the Sixers would lock up their best player long-term when given the opportunity. After All-Star point guard James Harden dramatically forced his way to the Clippers last season, this kind of steadying move is just what the doctor ordered.

Mizell notes that Tyrese Maxey has now evolved into an All-Star in Harden’s absence, and he, too, has been locked into a long-term new deal this summer.

There’s more out of the City of Brotherly Love:

In a separate article for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mizell cooks up a question for each player on the Sixers roster heading into the 2024/25 season. For Embiid, obviously the top question is how Philadelphia will manage the 30-year-old’s health throughout the regular season and heading into the playoffs. For new All-Star signing Paul George, the primary question becomes how he fits into the club’s system.
Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker revealed some details on the agreement to build the new, $1.3 billion Sixers arena downtown, per The Associated Press. The team will fund the project itself, without relying on the city at all, per Parker. The new deal will also require a $50MM contribution to schools, communities and local businesses to offset any potential disruptions made during the build. “I truly am proud having made this decision and negotiated an agreement that will definitely ensure that our Sixers are staying home right here in Philadelphia, where they should be,” Parker said.
In case you missed it, the Sixers recently completed a two-way deal with free agent guard Lester Quinones.

And-Ones: WBD Lawsuit, Top Storylines, G League Trade, More

September 25th, 2024 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The legal battle between the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery took another step forward in recent days. Responding to the NBA’s motion to dismiss their lawsuit, TBS and WBD filed a 33-page memorandum last Friday attempting to convince New York Judge Joel M. Cohen to deny that motion, per Michael McCann of Sportico.

The parent company of TNT Sports, filed a lawsuit against the NBA in July, alleging that the league was in breach of contract after it refused to recognize TNT’s right to match Amazon’s new broadcast deal with the NBA.

The latest filing from TBS/WBD insists that the league acted in bad faith to “circumvent” the network’s matching rights by including certain terms in its deal with Amazon that it knew TBS/WBD couldn’t specifically match. For instance, one clause in the NBA/Amazon agreement requires NBA games to be aired on a platform that also broadcasts NFL games. Amazon has a deal with the NFL, whereas TBS/WBD does not.

If the case continues to advance through the legal system, court records suggest a trial would be held sometime in April 2025, according to McCann.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Paul George‘s impact in Philadelphia and the Knicks’ potential hole at center are among the key storylines to monitor in the Eastern Conference this season, in the view of Fred Katz and Sam Amick of The Athletic. Katz and Amick also took a look at the top storylines to watch in the West, including whether Victor Wembanyama is ready to take the leap to superstardom, Ja Morant‘s potential redemption tour, and which second-tier team could move into the top group of contenders.
The South Bay Lakers, College Park Skyhawks (Hawks), and Texas Legends (Mavericks) have completed a three-team trade, with South Bay acquiring the returning rights to forward Chris Silva and center Jake Stephens in the deal, per a press release. The Skyhawks received Joirdon Nicholas‘ rights, while the Legends received multiple G League draft picks from the Lakers’ affiliate.
Responding to a pair of U.S. senators who criticized the NBA for partnering with Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum wrote in a letter that the league has followed “the lead of the U.S. government as to where it’s appropriate to engage in business around the world,” according to Mark Fainaru-Wada of ESPN. “If American policies were to change regarding business activities in and relating to Rwanda or any other BAL (Basketball Africa League) market, our actions would of course change accordingly,” Tatum said, adding that the NBA has promoted multiple social impact initiatives in Rwanda.
Sixers center Joel Embiid, Bucks guard Damian Lillard, and Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman are among the individuals across the NBA who are facing the most pressure entering the 2024/25 season, according to Michael Pina of The Ringer, whose top five is rounded out by Knicks forward Julius Randle and Heat wing Jimmy Butler.

Joel Embiid, Sixers Finalize Three-Year Max Extension

September 20th, 2024 at 7:05am CST by Luke Adams

Superstar center Joel Embiid has agreed to a three-year, maximum-salary contract extension with the Sixers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who reports that the new deal, which begins in 2026/27, will include a player option on the final year.

The deal is official, per an announcement from the team.

“Philadelphia is home,” Embiid wrote in an Instagram post announcing the agreement. “I want to be here for the rest of my career. I love this community and everything you’ve given me and my family. There is a lot more work to do. You guys deserve a championship and I think we’re just getting started!”

“Joel has cemented himself as one of the greatest Sixers of all time and is well on his way to being one of the best players to ever play the game. We’re ecstatic that this extension keeps him and his family in Philadelphia for years to come,” team owner Josh Harris said in a statement of his own. “Joel is a great family man, leader, and person. He is an elite two-way player with a combination of size, strength, and athleticism that this league has rarely – if ever – seen. He is integral to this franchise’s quest for another NBA Championship, and we are honored that he continues to choose this organization as his NBA home.”

Based on current salary cap projections, Embiid’s three-year extension will be worth approximately $192.9MM. He’ll make a projected $59.5MM in 2026/27 and $64.3MM in ’27/28, with a $69.1MM player option for ’28/29. Those figures count on the cap increasing by the maximum allowable 10% in each of the next two seasons.

Taking into account the two years and $106.6MM left on Embiid’s current contract, he’s now on track to earn just shy of $300MM over the next five seasons. The big man’s previous deal included a player option for the ’26/27 season, but it’ll be replaced by the new contract.

After being plagued by foot issues that cost him two full seasons at the start of his NBA career, Embiid has become one of the league’s most dominant players, earning All-Star nods in each of the past seven years and All-NBA spots in five of those seasons.

The former No. 3 overall pick holds career averages of 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game across 433 outings (all starts) and finished in the top two of three consecutive MVP votes from 2021-23, winning the award in ’23.

Embiid appeared headed for another MVP-caliber season in 2023/24 before a knee injury sidelined him for most of the second half and limited him to 39 games. The 30-year-old averaged a career-high 34.7 points per game with an elite .529/.388/.883 shooting line when healthy, then won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with Team USA this summer.

Embiid’s new deal makes him the fifth member of the NBA’s $500MM+ club, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN, who notes (via Twitter) that the Sixers star trails only LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and teammate Paul George in career earnings, based on their past and current contracts. Kevin Durant is the fifth player whose career salaries will exceed $500MM by the end of his current deal.

Embiid’s extension caps a huge offseason of spending for the 76ers, who also signed Tyrese Maxey to a five-year, $203.8MM contract and George to a four-year, $211.6MM deal in free agency. In total, Philadelphia’s three stars are owed approximately $715MM.

Stein’s Latest: Curry, James, Embiid, Yurtseven, Micic

August 18th, 2024 at 3:51pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Warriors All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry is eligible for a one-season, $62.6MM contract extension prior to October 21. He could also wait until the 2025 offseason to seek a two-year deal worth a projected $130MM, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack story.

Stein notes that, having missed out on Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen and Sixers All-Star Paul George, Golden State continues looking for opportunities to upgrade the roster via trade. The Warriors believe they have the current and future assets necessary to do just that.

Last year’s Warriors went 46-36, finishing with just the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. Golden State failed to make the playoffs after falling to the Kings in the play-in tournament.

Curry, 36, had yet another excellent individual year. The 10-time All-Star averaged 26.4 points on .450/.408/.923 shooting splits, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in 74 games.

Here are some other key notes from Stein’s newest Substack article:

According to Stein, there’s a belief that the Lakers would have “reluctantly” engaged in trade discussions to send All-NBA combo forward LeBron James to the Warriors, so he could join then-future Team USA colleague Curry and friend Draymond Green, if that’s what James had wanted. However, Stein’s sources say that Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent, urged both L.A. and Golden State to scrap the idea — in part because Paul didn’t want James to be faced with criticism for jumping teams for a fourth time.
Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid, fresh off winning his first Olympic gold medal for Team USA this summer, hinted that he might be interested in playing for his native Cameroon during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. However, as Stein writes, a player over the age of 17 can only change his country affiliation if he receives clearance from FIBA and his previous country (in this case, USA Basketball). Stein is skeptical that Embiid will be permitted to do so.
According to Stein, free agent center Omer Yurtseven was one of several players to recently work out for the Knicks, who opted not to sign him at that time. Greek club Panathinaikos reportedly remains intrigued by the 7-footer. New York lost its 2023/24 starting center, Isaiah Hartenstein, to the Thunder in free agency, and no doubt needs to get creative filling out its frontcourt depth, so Yurtseven would have made sense as a fringe rotation option. Across three NBA seasons with the Heat and Jazz, the big man has appeared in 113 contests (24 starts), averaging 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals per night.
Hornets point guard Vasilije Micic is considered a potential down-the-road trade target for the Nuggets, given his close relationship with Nikola Jokic, Stein writes. Micic may not be a practical option for Denver at this point though, given his $7.7MM salary and the team’s proximity to the tax aprons. Acquired midway through his 2023/24 rookie season, the 6’5″ guard averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 assists across 30 games for Charlotte down the stretch.

International Notes: FIBA Rankings, Jenkins, Embiid, Williams

August 15th, 2024 at 10:56am CST by Dana Gauruder

The results of the Paris Olympics led to some movement in the FIBA rankings, according to a press release from the organization. The USA remains at the top spot, with Serbia – which narrowly lost Team USA in the semifinals – moving up from No. 4 to No. 2.

Germany, the 2023 FIBA World Cup champions, remained at No. 3, while France leaped five notches to No. 4. Canada moved up two slots to round out the top five.

We have more from around the international basketball world:

Former NBA guard John Jenkins has signed with Tofas in Turkey, according to Sportando. Jenkins spent the last two seasons with the G League Ignite, appearing in a total of 43 games. He averaged 17.5 points in 16 regular season games last season. Jenkins hasn’t appeared in an NBA contest since the 2018/19 season, when he played a total of 26 games with the Knicks and Wizards.
Joel Embiid has been awarded the Medal of Commander of the Order of Valor by his native Cameroon in recognition of his Olympic gold medal, according to a TMZ report (hat tip to Eurohoops.net). Embiid moved to the U.S. when he was 16. Cameroon may have had an ulterior motive for celebrating Embiid — he hinted at the possibility of representing his homeland at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, though that switch would require USA Basketball and FIBA to sign off.
Former Clippers and Timberwolves guard C.J. Williams has signed with Poland’s Start Lublin, Sportando relays. Williams, who played in Romania last season, appeared in a total of 53 NBA games from 2017-19.

Sixers Notes: Jackson, Martin, Embiid, Gold Medalist

August 10th, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

Reggie Jackson didn’t have any concerns about joining a Sixers roster that already has plenty of point guards, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Jackson signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in late July, shortly after agreeing to a buyout with Charlotte, making him the latest lead guard on a team with Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, first-round pick Jared McCain and two-way player Jeff Dowtin. Jackson has confidence that coach Nick Nurse will find playing time for everyone.

“Since he was with the Raptors and became a head coach, kind of seeing how his team played, it was very interesting,” Jackson said. “Obviously, they played Lowry and [point guard] Fred VanVleet … how well they played together. They played long lineups where you had [forwards] Kawhi [Leonard], you had Pascal [Siakam], you had [Chris] Boucher. Shoot, he played [post players] Serge [Ibaka] and [Marc] Gasol at times together.”

Jackson is eager to see what Nurse can unlock in his game as he gets ready to join his sixth NBA team. He adds that he’s not bothered by the instability of being traded and then waived during the offseason.

“My circle always keeps me grounded. Just the love of the game of all facets and being able to be a military kid,” Jackson said of growing up with a father who was an Air Force officer. “Being a military kid prepared me for this life. Always moving around, always trying to figure it out, find ways to acclimate yourself to a new situation. Just trying to find a way to be effective.”

There’s more on the Sixers:

Caleb Martin grew up in North Carolina, but he feels like he can identify with the work ethic in Philadelphia, Pompey adds in a separate story. The 28-year-old forward could be in contention for a starting spot after leaving Miami to join the Sixers in free agency. “The feel you get from the fans is just kind of hard-nosed, blue-collar, scrappy, do-whatever-you-can [attitude], and that’s what this kind of crowd and environment feeds off of,” Martin said. “And I think I’m that type of player that can definitely get the crowd going and make plays like that and try to make as many plays as I can and just embrace everything that comes with it. So I’m excited.”
After being criticized early in his Olympics experience, Joel Embiid came through when Team USA needed him the most, notes Mike Sielski of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Embiid was part of a fourth quarter comeback against Serbia in the semifinals, helping to erase an eight-point deficit when he returned to the game with 7:19 remaining. Sielski sees it as an indication that Embiid may someday be able to lead the Sixers to playoff success.
Embiid has become the first American to win an Olympic gold medal while playing for the Sixers, Pompey tweets. The closest had been Andre Iguodala, who was traded to Denver during the 2012 Olympics, and Charles Barkley, who was sent to Phoenix two months prior to the 1992 Games.

Team USA Notes: Durant, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Embiid

August 9th, 2024 at 6:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Team USA will make a lineup change for its gold medal game on Saturday vs. France, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who says that Suns forward Kevin Durant will be inserted into the starting five, with Celtics guard Jrue Holiday expected to make the move to the bench.

Durant missed all of Team USA’s exhibition contests leading up to the Olympics due to a calf strain, or else he might have been a starter from day one. Despite not getting any game reps in before the Olympics, Durant has been one of the team’s most-used players and top scorers in France, averaging 13.6 points in 20.5 minutes per contest and posting a white-hot shooting line of .579/.611/.929.

The French team’s frontcourt is its biggest strength, with Victor Wembanyama, Guerschon Yabusele, and Mathias Lessort playing key roles in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Rudy Gobert is also in that mix, though he’s banged up and has played a limited role in the knockout round. Adding Durant to the starting five will put the U.S. squad in a better position to match up with France’s size.

Here’s more on Team USA ahead of Saturday’s gold medal game:

USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill spoke to Joe Vardon of The Athletic and Rachel Nichols on the All The Smoke podcast (YouTube link) about the process of building the U.S. roster and his areas of concern entering the tournament. In his conversation with Nichols, Hill discussed the omission of Jaylen Brown from the 12-man squad, indicating that the Celtics wing will receive consideration for the 2028 team in Los Angeles despite the public criticism Brown offered last month. “He’ll be a candidate if he wants in ’28,” Hill said (Twitter video link). “One thing I’ve learned is you can’t take anything personal. My objective is to win.”
After Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was a DNP-CD for the second time in the Olympics in Thursday’s comeback win over Serbia, head coach Steve Kerr explained that it’s hard to find playing time for 11 players in a 40-minute game, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing,” Kerr said. “It’s just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin has filled in since he came back from his injury. It’s just a math problem more than anything.” While it’s a small sample size, Tatum’s .389 FG% in Olympic play is the worst among U.S. players.
Sam Amick and Joe Vardon of The Athletic take a look at the Joel Embiid subplot that will play a part in Saturday’s final, given that the former NBA MVP chose to play for United States over France in these Olympics. Embiid fully anticipates a cool reception from the home crowd in Paris. “They’re going to boo me,” he said with a smile. “I’m going to go back at them and tell ’em to suck it. And so it’s going to be fun.”

France To Face Team USA For Olympic Gold

August 8th, 2024 at 4:03pm CST by Rory Maher

Host nation France pulled off its second consecutive upset by defeating 2023 World Cup champion Germany in the semifinals of men’s basketball at the 2024 Olympics, writes Kyle Hightower of The Associated Press.

Led by Guerschon Yabusele (17 points, seven rebounds, two assists), Isaia Cordinier (16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals), and a stifling defense anchored by Victor Wembanyama (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks), France edged Germany, 73-69.

While reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama struggled with his shot (4-of-17) for the second consecutive game, his impact was felt all over the court, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

“Of course, it’s part of a dream come true,” Wembanyama said, per ESPN. “We can be part of a goal that we set for ourselves months back. We can write history, even more. A once-in-a-lifetime dream.”

The French national team will advance to its second consecutive Olympic final after finishing with the silver medal in Tokyo three years ago.

In fact, Saturday’s Olympic final will be rematch, with France set to face the United States, which won gold in Tokyo. Team USA trailed by as many as 17 points in its semifinal matchup with Serbia and was down 13 entering the final frame, but mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to secure a 95-91 victory.

Stephen Curry (a game-high 36 points, eight rebounds, two assists), Joel Embiid (19 points, four rebounds, two assists), and LeBron James (16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) were instrumental down the stretch for the Americans, while Serbia was led by Bogdan Bogdanovic (20 points, four rebounds, three assists), Nikola Jokic (17 points, five rebounds, 11 assists), and Aleksa Avramovic (15 points, four rebounds, three assists).

In a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, Germany will face Serbia for the bronze medal on Saturday at 5:00 am ET. France will face the U.S. for gold at 3:30 pm ET.

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