Next season, along with Ben Simmons (and whoever else they pick up in the draft), the Sixers could unveil rookie Joel Embiid.
Finally.
Hopefully.
Embiid was the No. 3 pick of the 2014 draft, and had it not been for foot issues he might have gone No. 2 behind Andrew Wiggins (and in front of Jabari Parker). Of all the Sixers picks in recent years, including Jahlil Okafor and Simmons, Embiid was the highest rated by scouts.
However, those foot issues were real (the second surgery involved a bone graft), and he has missed two full seasons following two foot surgeries. Now he is healthy enough to be cleared for scrimmages, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical at Yahoo Sports.After a full year of rehabilitation, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been cleared to start light scrimmaging in five-on-five settings, league sources told The Vertical....
The 7-foot Embiid has been impressive in his non-contact workouts in recent weeks at the 76ers’ facility, sources said, and the soundness of his problematic right foot should continue to allow him to begin preparations for next season. Embiid, 22, is expected to travel to Las Vegas for the 76ers’ entry in the summer league in July but only to practice with the team, sources said. There’s no plan for him to participate in summer league games.
On one hand Summer League seems the perfect place to break Embiid into competition for a few games, but you can understand the Sixers caution at this point.
With Embiid, Simmons, Okafor and Nerlens Noel, the Philadephia front court is crowded. Which is why you get plenty of Okafor and Noel trade rumors, and those are not going to stop.
