Ready for some good news on Joel Embiid, the third overall pick from the 2014 NBA draft who has yet to make his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers?
Of course you are.
And depending on how you define good news, Tom Moore of Calkins Media may have some for you:
#NBA source: Joel Embiid's lone restriction right now is "full-contact, full-court scrimmaging." Story to follow. #Sixers
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) April 4, 2016
So, basically, Embiid can do anything except, you know, play basketball with other people.
Still..baby steps.
Joel Embiid has been absent for quite a while as he’s battled back and foot injuries. A foot issue is at the heart of this season’s sidelining, and there’s really no predicting what his future in Philly, or the NBA, will look like.
All the Sixers can hope for is that he continues making progress, to the point where he’s able play through full-court, full-contact scrimmages, without experiencing any setbacks, and ready to suit up for next season. It’s beyond unlikely that he’ll then be ready to play 30-plus minutes a night. But seeing him play at all would be something.
If and when he is healthy, the Sixers have a roster dilemma on their hands. Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are all best suited at the 5. Though you can try to stash one, preferably Embiid or Noel, at power forward, the Sixers also have Dario Saric to worry about. He should be coming stateside before next season and projects as an NBA 4. Head coach Brett Brown can try him at the 3, but it’s unlikely he’ll have much success there.
You can easily make the case that the Sixers have to trade two of Embiid, Noel and Okafor. Things get even more complicated if Philly, already guaranteed the league’s worst record this season, wins the lottery and selects Ben Simmons. Saric could all of sudden be out of place, too.
Nevertheless, it at least sounds like Joel Embiid is making measurable progress. And on the most fundamental level, that’s only a good thing.
