Will Joel Embiid sit out entire 2015-16 season?
Foot surgery kept Joel Embiid out for his entire rookie season, and a recent setback from that very injury may keep him on the sideline for all of year two. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, which spoke to several sources including an anonymous team executive in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers could be in big trouble:
"76ers center Joel Embiid may not be available to play at the start of the NBA season after the latest setback in the healing of his right foot, an NBA source said Sunday. There's also a legitimate chance that the 7-footer could miss the entire season. Another source, an Eastern Conference executive, said Sunday that the 76ers' rebuilding plan is doomed if Embiid is unable to remain healthy or play at a high level. 'He was their guy," said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'They were hoping he was a franchise player. If he's not a franchise player, their whole plan is gone...If Embiid can't play or if he can't reach a superstar level, their plan is really in trouble.'"
Losing Embiid two years in a row is far from an ideal scenario for Philadelphia. At best, it'll allow them to potentially gain another top-three pick in next year's draft, but patience is running thin on a rebuild that essentially only has Nerlens Noel to show for it.
Sooner or later, Sam Hinkie's picks need to play in actual games. That's kind of the whole reason for drafting them.
(h/t: Philadelphia Inquirer)
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