Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is reportedly consulting doctors and considering alternative options for his injured knee. The team, which sits 12th in the East and is 1.5 games back of the Bulls for the No. 10 seed, may be forced to shut down Embiid and other banged-up players for an extended stretch.
Embiid struggled against Brooklyn on Saturday night, starting the game 1-of-5 shooting and finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The knee issue has worsened lately, prompting the team to seek a second opinion from specialists. While surgery may not be necessary at this point, the decision could still impact the 76ers’ playoff push.
With their current record in the sixth-worst position in the NBA, Philadelphia is heavily reliant on retaining its first-round draft pick. The team owes Oklahoma City, but it is top-six protected. If the NBA Draft Lottery were today, Philly would have a 43.4% chance of retaining its pick, but a 56.6% chance they still lose it.
As Embiid’s situation continues to unfold, the 76ers will be forced to weigh their options and consider prioritizing their injured players’ health over the current playoff push.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/joel-embiid-reportedly-consulting-doctors-003719907.html