Sixers: 5 big storylines heading into training camp

Sixers training camp storylines: Joel Embiid’s workload

According to David Aldridge of The Athletic, the Sixers’ All-Star center is a “full go” for training camp after spending his summer resting and rehabbing a torn meniscus. Joel Embiid and the team notably opted against surgery over the offseason, choosing instead to heal the old-fashioned way.

It appears to have worked, with Embiid expected to have no restrictions as practices and scrimmages get underway. Given his injury history, the Sixers will be inherently cautious with Embiid’s health. That said, it doesn’t appear there is any reason to panic over the knee.

Even with the knee injury, Embiid was downright dominant in the playoffs, averaging 30.4 points and 12.7 rebounds in Philadelphia’s second-round loss. Last season was Embiid’s best to date, excelling in almost every aspect of the game en route to a second place finish in MVP voting.

This season, with Ben Simmons out the door — and a holdout possibly dragging into the regular season — Embiid could see his biggest workload yet. If the Sixers are indeed without Simmons, Embiid will have to drag the team to the finish line almost every night. That’s not an ideal situation given Embiid’s size and injury history, put it does set him up for another MVP campaign.