Following a disappointing loss at home against the Pelicans, the Philadelphia 76ers travel to Florida to take on a tough cookie in the upstart Orlando Magic, which are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
But apparently, the 76ers would not be getting any favors ahead of this tough test. The team is still quite hobbled, and there is no saying with certainty that their sidelined players could return against the Magic.
Here is the latest news roundup on what’s going on around the squad.
Latest Joel Embiid injury update should be a sigh of relief for 76ers fans
Joel Embiid has been out of commission for the last three games with a sprained left foot, but it does not see like it is going to haunt him and the fans for long.
According to Nick Nurse, while his left foot had been aggravated, Embiid has been a full participant in practice and that his status would be day-to-day. Also, his knee remains unaffected which is, of course, a great sign nonetheless, although it leaves the team severely thin in the paint with Andre Drummond also sidelined.
Embiid is currently listed as questionable against Orlando, so there is a sliver of chance that he suits up for this one. With the Magic touting one of the premiere defenses in the league, tghe 76ers need all the firepower they can get, especially with Paolo Banchero back on the other side.
Tyrese Maxey provides words of wisdom for 76ers rookie Jared McCain
Jared McCain was the undeniable favorite to bag the Rookie of the Year award before he went down with an unfortunate torn meniscus, prompting him to undergo an season-ending surgery. The freshman is clearly a big loss for the 76ers, especially in account of their bench and backcourt woes.
Asked about what he would impart to the rookie, Tyrese Maxey gave a candid answer and said that the rookie at least has something to build off of thanks to his stellar play to kickstart his NBA career.
Tyrese Maxey, on the news that Jared McCain would be out for the rest of the season: "He has something to build off of when he gets back. It would have really sucked if he got hurt and he didn't have anything to look at, any film to watch, any highlights to watch. But he has a… pic.twitter.com/8VNhZP5UMQ
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 11, 2025
McCain should be able to make a full recovery early in the summer, setting him up nicely for a potential breakout season in Year Two. Hopefully, his rehab goes smoothly as he has emerged as one of the future cornerstones for the franchise.
Guerschon Yabusele continues to impress
Yabusele has been a godsend this season for Philadelphia, and the entire team certainly acknowledges that. The Frenchman has become perhaps the most malleable operator on the team, playing nearly all frontcourt positions on a regular basis.
Nick Nurse outlines his importance to the team with a pretty detailed breakdown of what he brings to the team’s dynamic.
“It certainly helps, especially against rim-protecting centers that are going to be in drop [coverage] and waiting at the rim. You see a good chunk of those guys come through, so that’s helpful. The second thing is [Yabusele has] a good, safe pair of hands out of the blitz stuff, too. When they blitz, he ends up with the ball there, having to make the 4-on-3 next pass/read, and he does a pretty good job of reading that as well. It’s big on both accounts”.
The reliable tweener has certainly become a vital piece for the Philadelphia 76ers. Hopefully, the front office somehow carves out a way to keep him in the city despite the team’s cap limitations.