The Philadelphia 76ers still can't seem to get over the hump with Joel Embiid, but they could potentially have expansive cap room this offseason that could allow them to put another All-Star-caliber player alongside of Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
But will the 76ers be able to do that?
Apparently, multiple player agents have said that they are advising their clients to consider Embiid's checkered injury history before signing with Philadelphia in free agency, via Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Embiid has never played 70 games in a regular season before, and by the time the playoffs roll around every year, he is usually dealing with some sort of injury. Typically, it involves his knees, which also makes you wonder just how much longer Embiid's shelf life is as an elite NBA player.
This could certainly inhibit Philly's efforts to significantly bolster its roster in free agency. Maybe not in terms of signing role players, but when it comes to adding another star, Embiid's shaky health could make top free agents look elsewhere.
What is the 76ers' window really like with Joel Embiid?
When healthy, there is no question that Embiid is a dominant force. This season, he averaged 34.7 points, 11 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals over 33.6 minutes per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor, 38.8 percent from three-point range and 88.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Talent and regular-season production is not the issue for Embiid. It's actually being able to stay on the floor.
As fantastic as Embiid's numbers for the 2023-24 campaign looked, he played in just 39 games this year. His knees were not 100 percent heading into the 76ers' first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, and he even injured his knee in Game 1 of the series. He played through it and managed to average 33 points, 10.8 boards and 5.7 assists during Philadelphia's six-game loss, but he also faded down the stretch of some of those contests.
This has been a consistent issue for Embiid throughout his NBA career. Up until this spring, when Embiid dropped 39 points in Philly's Game 6 defeat to the Knicks, the seven-time All-Star had also developed a reputation for playing rather poorly in elimination games. Was that the playoff pressure getting to Embiid? Or does the seven-foot, 280-pound center simply get burnt out at the end of a grueling postseason series? Perhaps it's a combination of both.
Regardless, as terrific as Embiid is, he has never made it past the second round of the playoffs. This is in spite of playing alongside of stars like Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, James Harden and Maxey. Let's also remember that when the Sixers initially landed Tobias Harris during the 2018-19 campaign, he was viewed as an impressive addition by many.
So, can Embiid truly be the No. 1 option on a title-contending team? And can you trust him in late April and beyond?
These are all questions that the top free agents will likely ask themselves this summer.
It's not like the 76ers have not tried to add talent around Embiid over the better part of the last decade. They've signed free agents. They've made trades. They've had pieces. It just simply hasn't worked.
Maybe things will change this time around for Philadelphia. Or, maybe it will be more of the same and Philly will ultimately have to consider trading Embiid at some point.
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