It has been a bizarre summer season for the Philadelphia 76ers. They landed the third decide within the draft, however their first alternative rejected them, and so they additionally misplaced their high free agent to the rival New York Knicks.
Add in Paul George getting injured and Joel Embiid’s well being, and the 76ers are primed for essentially the most 76ers season ever. Darkish occasions certainly. Embiid’s future stays unsure as he underwent main offseason surgical procedure to restore his injured knee.
That knee harm was imagined to have been fastened however led to repeated points final season, together with swelling that resulted in him being shut down for the yr. His harm points induced Sixers beat author Keith Pompeii to recommend that Embiid might not have a lot time left within the NBA.
“Not often do you’ve got a man inform you how a lot ache he’s in and the way a lot they’re going via.”@PompeyOnSixers tells @TheJaxShow and @DarthAmin he thinks Embiid may very well be hinting at one thing in his current ESPN function pic.twitter.com/620n9QQW5k
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 27, 2025
Joel Embiid’s future with the Sixers is up within the air
It is unlikely that he’ll retire contemplating that he has $193 million owed to him over the subsequent three seasons. Nonetheless, if Embiid is out for a very long time, the Sixers have choices.
The Sixers may ask for medical retirement relating to Embiid if he’s anticipated to overlook greater than a whole season. That will enable them to clear his remaining wage, releasing up at the least $59 million in cap area a season over the subsequent three years.
They’d nonetheless must pay him, however his wage would not rely on their cap sheet. In fact, whereas Embiid’s well being is a serious query mark for subsequent season, it is arduous to count on him to by no means play one other NBA recreation.
The Philadelphia 76ers could also be caught with Embiid
That implies that Philly may very well be caught with him over the subsequent three seasons. That was solely predictable. Actually everybody acquainted with Embiid’s observe document noticed storm clouds on the horizon once they signed him to that max extension.
Even when President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey one way or the other will get off of Embiid’s contract, he’ll must carry out one other magic trick with George’s deal. Having not one however two of the worst contracts within the NBA is a disasterclass by the Sixers and will handcuff them going ahead.
Of their protection, they nonetheless have star Tyrese Maxey, in addition to Jared McCain and V.J. Edgecombe. That’s removed from nothing, however the Sixers will basically have twin timelines with these gamers after which their ageing stars in Embiid and George.
All informed, the Sixers have a serious Embiid drawback on their palms. If Pompei’s assertion is true, then the 76ers might quickly must make a tough Embiid choice that might alter their franchise.
