Joel Embiid was the number three overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was looked at as a player that could make a splash down the road. Embiid, coming off of foot surgery, already knew that he would have to wait a year before he could suit up for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, it looks like the seven-foot center will have to spend another year on the bench.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Embiid will require another foot surgery and may not play this upcoming season. Within the past months, reports surfaced that Embiid suffered a setback in his healing process, although the details were not initially made clear. Embiid was often shown doing workouts before games during the 2014-15 season, leading many to think that he was indeed on his way back.
Embiid is said to be pain-free although tests have shown that his healing has not only stalled, but have seem to reveal that his foot is in worse condition than previous tests showed. This setback ultimately led doctors to prepare for a second foot surgery. Sources have also said that this go-round may even be career-threatening.
Embiid is set to make just over $4.6M this upcoming season with team options for the following two seasons.
The only light of hope for the Sixers is the addition of this year’s number three overall pick Jahlil Okafor who will play with last year’s stud Nerlens Noel, who also missed his rookie season due to injury. The pairing of the two big men will take on new plans as the Sixers were initially planning to rotate three big men into their line-up.
There is currently no exact timetable for Embiid moving forward, but look for more details to be revealed after surgery is complete.
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