76ers lead executive Mike Gansey said in a recent interview that Joel Embiid is “extra motivated” for the upcoming season.
Embiid and the 76ers disappointingly saw their season end as the Knicks swept them in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Since then, there’s been a change in leadership, with Gansey replacing Daryl Morey. In addition to acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, the 76ers signed LeBron James in free agency. Expectations going into next season will be sky-high, and it helps that Embiid can use this offseason to hone his craft instead of recovering from another injury. “This is like the first summer I think in a while that he’s been healthy, so he’s been in the gym working out,” Gansey told ESPN. “He’s been lifting weights. He’s extra motivated. He wants to play a lot of games, and he’s excited about the group we’ve built now. Even before these trades and LeBron, I think he was excited. So he’s motivated to have a good year and he’s ready to go.” When healthy, Embiid can be one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. However, the injury history will likely keep many managers from selecting him with a first-round pick in drafts.
