The Sixer Sense
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Is Joel Embiid Behind Schedule?

By Josh Wilson

Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (far left) watches as center Joel Embiid (21) walks out of the tunnel on crutches prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (far left) watches as center Joel Embiid (21) walks out of the tunnel on crutches prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joel Embiid is the biggest unknown of the Philadelphia 76ers rebuild. Is his rehabilitation behind schedule?

The Philadelphia 76ers rebuilding process is complex, ever-changing, and most of all, completely unknown. It is anything but stable, but still, fans find a way to trust that everything will turn out alright and believe that the Sixers will be strong competitors in a few years.

A huge part of the rebuild is being rested on injured Joel Embiid, who was drafted two years ago by the Sixers. Two years later, and Embiid still has not seen a single second of in-game action for the Sixers due to a navicular bone being broken and then re-broken in his foot.

Embiid was supposed to be on the floor this season. Coming out of the draft, the Sixers knew Embiid was a gamble because of this injury, but were willing to wait for this supposed once-in-a-lifetime big man. They didn’t expect him to miss this year, though, and it’s become unclear whether or not he’s on tract to show up as a player for next season. For two years, now, he’s taken up a roster spot on the team, and it’s time we see some good things from him coming out of his second surgery.

The former Kansas Jayhawk has reason to excite fans. He was an outstanding big man in his only season at Kansas, scoring 11.2 points per game, blocking 2.6 shots, and pulling in 8.1 rebounds. He can also hit some shots with range, which makes us believe he could impact an offensive scheme like Chris Bosh does in Miami. There’s no doubt that he’s got skill, and that he could boost an offense (as well as defense) when he’s healthy.

There’s some question though, with this much setback, is there reason to expect that he’s back on track with his rehab?

This Vine is from over a year ago, published by the Sixers. Last year at this point, the expectation was that Embiid was on track to be playing this season, and things like this helped solidify that thought in our head.

When is the last time we’ve seen him do this? Since his second surgery in the beginning of this season, we haven’t seen him leave his feet at all. In fact, it took a while before he even got to show up to games without his protective boot on. Since this Vine came out, we’ve heard that he cares more about Shirley Temples than getting back on the floor, that junk food has been an issue, and that he’s been rebellious with the medical staff.

I find many of those reports to be stretching the truth, but it seems as things have been very downhill with Embiid.

This season, Embiid has been working on other things in the public eye. Embiid has extended his range and hit flat-footed 3-point shots with ease, and doesn’t do much dunking these days.

It’s tough to know why we aren’t seeing any dunks from Embiid yet. Is it because his foot isn’t strong enough to jump on yet? Or is it because the Sixers simply want him working more on other skills, since his height and dunking abilities are already top-tier?

I don’t have an answer for this question, but I have a strange feeling in my gut about Embiid. I know some others are with me. We aren’t quite sure we believe Embiid can ever be what he is expected to be, and we aren’t quite sure his rehabilitation is actually on track.

Ideally, Embiid comes back next season and allows the Sixers to pawn Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor in exchange for a high-value player in another position, but I’m not ready to bank the Sixers’ future on Embiid. We need to see more progress from him.

Embiid can be everything the Sixers need and more if he can ever reach full potential. But if not, he’s just another failed part of the Sixers ever-changing rebuilding process.