Daryl Morey provides an update on Joel Embiid’s knee: ‘We are not concerned about him medically at all’

The final time that we noticed Philadelphia 76ers All-Star middle Joel Embiid on a basketball courtroom, he was taking part in by means of a meniscus tear that he suffered within the first spherical of the playoffs in opposition to the Washington Wizards. Embiid missed a sport on account of the damage, however he returned for Philadelphia’s second spherical matchup in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks, and he performed in all seven video games of the sequence.

The knee did not appear to trouble Embiid an excessive amount of in opposition to Atlanta, as he averaged 30.4 factors and 12.7 rebounds in 37.4 minutes per efficiency over the sequence. Nonetheless, there was some hypothesis about whether or not or not Embiid would wish to endure surgical procedure after the season. 

Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey spoke to media members after the 2021 NBA Draft, and though he did not reveal whether or not or not Embiid wanted, or would get, surgical procedure, he did present an encouraging replace on the massive man. 

“I’d say on Joel, he is been within the fitness center,” Morey stated. “He was within the fitness center as we speak engaged on his sport. He has a plan with our medical workers, and we be ok with it and we aren’t involved about him medically in any respect.”  

The Sixers’ success subsequent season — and past — fully hinges on Embiid’s well being, so the truth that he is been within the fitness center and that the Sixers aren’t involved about him in any respect are clearly promising indicators. The ignorance relating to surgical procedure is a bit odd given the truth that the Sixers are properly into the offseason at this level, however maybe Embiid and the Sixers workers have determined to forego surgical procedure in favor of a pure therapeutic course of. 

“Man, it is a torn meniscus, it’s what it’s,” Embiid informed media members after the Sixers have been eradicated by the Hawks final month. “I assume there is a good and a nasty. We misplaced so now I can maintain my physique. That is one thing that I believed exhausting about taking part in on it, however finally I made a decision to do it. However that was my alternative and received to dwell with the outcomes. On the finish of the day, in the case of my future, I will be positive.”  

Along with his well being, the opposite pertinant query in the case of Embiid is that if the Sixers will provide him an extension over the offseason. Along with ending second in MVP voting behind Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic final season, Embiid was additionally named to the All-NBA Second Crew for the third time in his profession. Because of being named All-NBA, Embiid is now eligible to signal a supermax extension with the Sixers over the offseason. The extension would kick in for the 2023-24 season, as Embiid is presently beneath contract by means of 2022-23.    

It’s extremely doubtless that the Sixers will certainly provide Embiid such an extension, given how worthwhile he has been to the franchise, each on and off the ground. There would most likely be some stage of concern, given the truth that the extension can be an entire lot of cash for a participant that has had his justifiable share of damage points. However, in the case of Embiid, the danger is definitely worth the reward. For the entire damage points he is handled, he is been out there for Philadelphia in every of the final 4 postseasons, even taking part in by means of that torn meniscus this previous season. 

The large man’s final extension with the Sixers included injury provisions that protected the team. Maybe they’re going to do one thing related this time round. Regardless, an extension ought to be anticipated over the offseason for Embiid, who has clearly established himself as one of the dominant gamers in the whole NBA.