The Philadelphia 76ers have had a combined low season so far, and it may worsen given a brand new report from The Athletic. Joel Embiid, who had surgical procedure in March to repair an injured knee, seemingly hasn’t made a lot progress 4 months later. Embiid hasn’t even been cleared to get again on the court docket but.
I am not a health care provider, however that is clearly not excellent news for the Sixers, who had been hoping for a wholesome Embiid and Paul George subsequent season. Whereas George seems wholesome as he prepares for his seventeenth season and will bounce again from his worst season since his rookie 12 months, Embiid’s restoration stays unsure.
Their entrance court docket additionally is not practically as deep as final season with the lack of Guerschon Yabusele, who dipped and signed with the New York Knicks. That may damage, although there may be the prospect that they will preserve Quinten Grimes, whose market in restricted free company has dried up.
He put up eye-popping numbers when the Sixers so-called Large Three had been out for the rest of final season. Grimes may very well be an enormous assistance on either side of the ball with Embiid presumably lacking the beginning of and most of subsequent season.
Sixers President Daryl Morey nonetheless expects Embiid to be prepared to begin the season, based on The Athletic. However even after getting a head begin on having surgical procedure, he does not look like wherever close to getting again to full well being. Then there may be the prospect that he returns to begin the season solely to get injured once more.
The Sixers should pivot to Tyrese Maxey with Embiid’s accidents
Embiid being in avenue garments most of the time underscores the outdated adage that one of the best skill is availability. Proficient as he could also be, he does not appear able to taking part in no less than two-thirds of the season, to not point out holding up for a deep playoff run.
Most NBA Finals runs sometimes final a minimal of 25 video games. There isn’t any probability that Embiid can maintain up over a daily season and a protracted playoff run. As an alternative, the Sixers ought to pivot towards constructing round younger star Tyrese Maxey.
They’ve already taken a step in that route too. They had been rumored to be contemplating buying and selling the third general choose however as a substitute stored it and chosen V.J. Edgecombe.
Maxey, Edgecombe, and Jared McCain are all proficient sufficient and younger sufficient to be thought of a younger core. With Paul and Embiid nearer to the tip of their careers than the start, the Sixers may take a dual-track strategy.
They’ll nonetheless attempt to contend within the brief time period whereas additionally growing their younger gamers, particularly Edgecombe and McCain. That approach, when it comes time for them to maneuver on from George and Embiid, they’ll hopefully be capable to seamlessly transition into a brand new period.
