Embiid Suffers Setback

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/13/after-sitting-out-all-of-last-season-joel-embiid-suffers-setback-with-foot-recovery/




After sitting out all of last season, Joel Embiid suffers setback with foot recovery
Kurt Helin Jun 13, 2015, 11:00 PM EDT




I think I speak for everyone when I say: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid sat out all of last season following surgery to left foot, but was on target to return to the court for Summer League (he looked good in warm ups). No longer. He has had a setback, something first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports and later confirmed by the team. From Wojnarowski:

After weeks of rigorous workouts, Embiid had not felt pain in the foot, but a recent CT scan revealed an issue in the healing process, sources said. Philadelphia is consulting with doctors on how to best proceed, and it’s still premature to speculate on the possibility of another surgical procedure that could sideline Embiid, sources said.

Embiid had been expected to participate with Sixers’ summer league teams in July, but that could jeopardized now, sources said. For now, it is too soon to tell how long Embiid will be kept out.

Here is what Sixers GM Sam Hinkie said in the official release from the team:

“Recently, Joel and Sixers personnel traveled to Los Angeles for a series of routine exams with a number of physicians involved throughout this process. During his visit with Dr. Richard Ferkel, a standard CT scan on Joel’s right foot revealed less healing than anticipated at this point.

“Our priority remains providing Joel with every opportunity to ensure he has a long and successful NBA career, and as such, they findings cause us to pause and reassess current activities. Together with Joel and his representatives, we will continue to consoled with the experienced team of doctors who had been an integral part of his evaluations, while also engaging in dialogue with a broader set of experts and specialists.

“Discussions regarding the appropriate next steps are currently ongoing and we will share an update once it becomes available.”

Embiid had been considered a potential No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, but had surgery on his foot to repair a stress fracture just three days before the draft. He fell to No. 3, where the Sixers — with their tanking plan in place from management — were more than willing to wait a year to see what they had.

Now they may have to wait even longer.

If you’re wondering “could this injury impact what GM Sam Hinkie does in the draft?” well, that would involve predicting Hinkie was going to do in the first place. Good luck with that. Embiid had been sitting in on player interviews as the Sixers decide who to take with the No. 3 pick.



bob
MY NOTE:  The draft, especially one-and-doners, is a pig-in-a-poke.  Give me a veteran who has demonstrated he can play 82 games without his body breaking down. Even more pressure placed upon Hinkie to prove he's not a nincompoop. Works for me.


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this is all just smoke and mirrors, the Sixers are just setting in place the narrative for their tanking again this season. I think the goal is to somehow fill a 15 man squad with all lotto players on rookie contracts and go from there.

Bob,

Exactly right.  A proven quality is much more appealing than an unproven one, which is why the term "crap shoot," when applied to the draft, is an apt one.  Can you say, "Oden?"

Sam

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/16/report-legitimate-chance-joel-embiid-could-once-again-miss-the-entire-season/



Report: ‘Legitimate chance’ Joel Embiid could once again miss the entire season
Brett Pollakoff Jun 16, 2015, 9:00 AM EDT



In each of the last two NBA Drafts, the Sixers selected what they hoped would be cornerstone big men in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

While both are loaded with talent, the moves were viewed as being at least slightly risky, considering that both players were injured at the time and would need to miss the entirety of their first NBA seasons.

Things worked out according to plan with Noel, who showed all kinds of promise while appearing in 75 games last season. But for Embiid, a recent setback with his foot injury could put things on hold for much longer than the team anticipated.

From Keith Pompey of Philly.com:

76ers center Joel Embiid may not be available to play at the start of the NBA season after the latest setback in the healing of his right foot, an NBA source said Sunday. There’s also a legitimate chance that the 7-footer could miss the entire season.

Another source, an Eastern Conference executive, said Sunday that the 76ers’ rebuilding plan is doomed if Embiid is unable to remain healthy or play at a high level.

“He was their guy,” said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They were hoping he was a franchise player. If he’s not a franchise player, their whole plan is gone. . . . If Embiid can’t play or if he can’t reach a superstar level, their plan is really in trouble.”

The part about the rebuilding plan being “doomed” if Embiid ends up being a bust isn’t exactly true, because more losing in Philadelphia would mean more lottery picks, and a chance to replace him with rookie talent in the future.

But there’s no question the process would be delayed, and it’s worth wondering just how much patience ownership will have if the rebuilding drags on season after miserable season.



bob
MY NOTE:  The Tanker may have just taken a torpedo amidships.  Aren't you glad you aren't a Sixer fan, who had to sit through that entire NBA record-setting season (26 straight losses), for this?


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No Bob.  As a 6ers fan, I would have wanted to appreciate the full effect of the scuttling of the fleet, meaning the loss of a few more close games.  Then again, I've met few 76ers fans who weren't total losers.

Sam