When it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers' upcoming season, is there anything we really know for certain? Maybe one of the biggest question marks remains Joel Embiid, and unfortunately, his contract situation only serves to make this matter more complicated.
The Sixers are probably among the biggest wild cards when you talk about the 2025-26 NBA season. This team sustained so many injuries last year, it's hard to accurately gauge how well they will perform. On the one hand, I think everybody is so low on both Embiid and Paul George at this point that they're likely going to come out of the gate and surprise a lot of non-Sixers fans.
Realistically, the best-case scenario for this team is still an exciting one. Philadelphia could easily finish next season with a top-three record in the Eastern Conference given the talent on their roster and the plethora of injuries inundating the rest of the conference.
But the flip side of the coin is the part that is a bit more stressful to consider. If the 76ers deal with more injury troubles, especially to their stars, things could begin to unravel rather quickly. As per the usual, this conversation is always going to go back to Joel Embiid.
Embiid's health is ultimately still a question mark for Philadelphia
It's absolutely fair for Sixers fans to not really know what to expect when they first see Joel suit up and return to the floor this fall. He's been progressing in his recovery from knee surgery and is expected to be ready for the season opener, but there's no telling what version of Embiid we're going to get.
At best, Philly will have an MVP candidate who looks like a top-five player in the sport once again. But in the worst-case scenario, Embiid might look a bit slower than before and hampered by his ongoing lower-body troubles. Unfortunately, big men with a history of repeated serious ailments, particularly knee troubles, have had a rough time over the course of NBA history.
Then there's the contract piece. Embiid is about to be playing on the final year of his old contract, prepared to earn $55.2 million next season. After that, his new deal will take effect, and he'll earn $187.6 million over the course of the next three years.
Considering the current state of his health and the overall uncertainty surrounding what he will look like upon returning, it's safe to say that this contract creates a pretty big problem. Only if Joel is back and playing up to his previous high standards will it no longer be a worry for the 76ers.