No matter what happens from here on out, the Philadelphia 76ers will live and die by Joel Embiid. If anything, last season’s struggles with him suiting up in just 19 games only proves one thing — that he is still the team’s best player. The franchise’s fate next season will likewise be determined by his ability to stay on the court and play at the level everyone is accustomed to seeing him at.
Unfortunately, things are not looking good for the 2023 Most Valuable Player, at least for now. Almost four months after a minor knee procedure last April, Embiid is still reporedly not doing any work on the hardwood, focusing on his rehab and return to play. Even his status for training camp, which is still a couple of months away, remains to be determined.
But even if Embiid does don the team’s uniform to start the season, even going as far as to defy all odds and play a huge chunk of the regular season games, Philadelphia’s brass badly needs to start preparing for life without him. There is definitely some air of confidence with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe comprising one of the best backcourts in the league both in the present and in the future, but such a guard-heavy dynamic will not cut it in today’s league.
The 76ers will still need a reliable inside presence like Embiid, but fortunately, it seems like they already have a prime candidate to succeed the superstar on the roster.
Johni Broome could be the Joel Embiid “replacement” the 76ers need
As a disclaimer, it would be highly unrealistic to peg Johni Broome as someone who can match Embiid’s production from a numbers standpoint. Simply put, view this from a stylistic point of view.
The 76ers tried to augment their frontcourt depth early in the offseason by drafting Broome out of Auburn, and while there were initial doubts about his fit with the 76ers, suffice to say that he has proven some of his naysayers wrong with the glimpses he showed during the Summer League.
Broome was easily one of the most striking big men in the summer tourney. During the Vegas games, he averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds per outing, draining 44.4 percent of his shots and canning 45.5 percent of his attempts from three-point range.
The Auburn product’s best game came during their win over the Mavericks, leading the 76ers with 22 markers, 14 boards, and four made threes.
Broome showed that he has the potential to be a high-usage scoring big man who can quickly run up the score in a variety of ways. He is a great post operator, and his three-point stroke looks good and very workable early on.
Next to the likes of Maxey, McCain, and Edgecombe, Broome would be a great running mate in the frontcourt as a roll and pop option, just like Embiid. His defense and passing remain works in progress, but his solid fundamentals, especially on the offensive end, bodes well for his future in Philly, and for the 76ers as a whole.