Whereas the information ends hopes of repeating as MVP for Embiid, the state of affairs additionally places the 76ers in a severe quandary.
The NBA commerce deadline is looming on Feb. 8, and with the standing of the crew’s finest participant nonetheless unsure, the trail forward for the Sixers can also be unclear.
Do they threat dealing belongings and add items in hopes that Embiid will likely be again? Or do they pack it in and grow to be sellers as a substitute?
Proper now, the Sixers are nonetheless in okay form at 30-18, which is nice sufficient for fifth within the East. Nonetheless, with out Embiid, they’re falling quick, having dropped 4 of the 5 video games with out him just lately.
Moreover, the Sixers merely aren’t the identical crew when he isn’t within the lineup, going 4-10 this season alone. In the meantime, Philly has the fourth-hardest energy of schedule remaining within the NBA, per Tankathon. By the crew’s ultimate 34 video games, 12 come in opposition to groups ranked fourth or higher of their respective convention.
As for potential reinforcements, the pickings are slim.
In keeping with insider Marc Stein, the 76ers are nonetheless concerned with veteran Kyle Lowry, and Embiid’s standing would not “routinely” rule them out on the six-time All-Star.
In the meantime, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic threw out a couple of potential choices, although none transfer the needle too far, together with Bojan Bogdanovic, Gordon Hayward and Malcolm Brogdon.
Practically every week since Embiid final took the court docket, the image shifting ahead would not look any clearer for the 76ers.
Extra info will come out after his process, however till then, the franchise and its hopes for the season stay in limbo.
