The Philadelphia 76ers have shut down Joel Embiid for the remainder of the season due to his injured left knee, casting a bleak shadow on the team’s future. Despite playing just 19 games this season, Embiid has been limited by injuries, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game – far short of his past production.
At 31, Embiid’s injury-prone history raises concerns about the team’s ability to build around him. He has played fewer than 70 games in a season only once in his career and is often limited by injuries during playoffs. The seven-time All-Star’s substantial contract makes it difficult for the team to trade him, as doing so would require finding a new suitor for the No. 3 overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft.
Assuming Embiid sticks around, the question remains whether the Sixers can build a strong roster around him and what production they can expect from him moving forward. While Embiid is skilled, his defensive limitations and lack of availability make it challenging to create a winning team with him as the focal point.
The 76ers’ situation highlights the difficulties in managing player contracts and building around talented but injury-prone players. With no clear solution in sight, Philadelphia’s future looks bleak, and so does Embiid’s individual prospects. The summer ahead will be a long and challenging one for the team.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/joel-embiid-instant-reaction-the-future-looks-bleak-for-the-76ers-230508869.html