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The Philadelphi 76ers are expected to place Joel Embiid on a load management plan in the coming season. At this point, it's not clear exactly how many games he will be rested, but the Cameroonian big man is hoping to play more than the 64 games he participated in for the Sixers last regular season.
The Sixers have a load-management plan for Embiid this season. The All-Star center would not say the number of games he expected to miss. However, Embiid expects to play more than 64 games if everything goes right this season.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 30, 2019
Embiid's 64 appearances during the 2018-19 regular season were a career-high. However, the former No. 3 overall pick missed crucial games down the stretch due to flare-ups in his surgically-repaired knee. He's reportedly lost 25 pounds over the summer, so that should help a bit.
Sixers head coach Brett Brown has said that the team's goal is to claim the No. 1 seed in the East this season, but not at the detriment of Embiid's health.
Brett Brown: "I want the #1 seed…of course we're going to say not to the detriment of Joel's health, but I will put out there now: I want the #1 seed."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 25, 2019
Embiid racked up averages of 27.5 points on 48.4 percent shooting from the field (30.0 percent from beyond the arc), 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 33.7 minutes per outing last season.
Embiid will have a new running-mate on the low block this 2019-20, as the Sixers signed Al Horford to a reported four-year, $113 million deal.
“This is my 13th year in the league… being able to play next to a guy like Joel is really a dream come true for me,” Horford told Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I believe he is the best big man in the NBA right now.”
The Sixers finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 51-31 overall record, which earned the team a No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Unfortunately, though, Philadelphia was defeated by Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors in the second round, 4-3.
