In case you need reminding, go ahead and rewatch Sunday’s game to see how much the Sixers miss Joel Embiid when he’s out.
The team looked hopeless without the big fella, getting crushed by the Boston Celtics 123-91 in Game 1 Sunday. Sure, the Celtics are the favorites to get out of the East and Nick Nurse didn’t seem to have any answers for anything Joe Mazzulla was doing, but Embiid’s absence was undeniably felt.
Adem Bona and Andre Drummond struggled mightily on both ends of the floor. Bona couldn’t
finish anything at the rim and got into early foul trouble. Drummond yet again couldn’t keep up with Neemias Queta and also got into early foul trouble. Dominick Barlow had to play some five and didn’t find any success, either.
Like it or not, the Sixers are stuck in this Embiid limbo, praying there’s any chance he can return for this series. The team is only as good as his health allows them to be — which obviously hasn’t been good for nearly his entire career. Trading him isn’t likely to help the franchise now or in the future. It’s frustrating, but there really aren’t many alternatives other than getting serious about building a roster that can at least withstand his absences.
Embiid’s three-year extension kicks in next season, when he’ll make (an estimated) $57.9 million. That number goes up to $62.6 million in 2027-28. He then has a player option for the 2028-29 season at $67.2 million. Put yourself in the shoes of another general manager — as great as Embiid is when he plays, are you giving up real assets for that cap hit and sorted injury history? Of course you aren’t.
Think about Daryl Morey’s history here as well. He won’t salary dump players, for better or worse. He did so immediately upon his arrival with Al Horford in a move that absolutely had to happen. Since then, he’s held on to players like Ben Simmons and James Harden, despite their desires to be traded. This is a guy who held on to Tobias Harris for the entirety of his contract because he couldn’t get positive value in return. To think he would happily hand over picks to get off Embiid’s contract isn’t based in reality.
Of course, there’s a non-zero chance Morey isn’t running things this offseason. So, you’re then expecting the next executive to trade a guy in Embiid who is a franchise icon and, again, attach assets to do it. It would be the defining move of the next executive’s tenure. That’s a lot of weight to put on a potential Morey successor.
And take into account what the team looks like post-Embiid salary dump. It’s doubtful the players they receive in return will offer any type of upgrade. Those guys are likely to be salary dumps in their own right. Maybe a player like a Nicolas Batum will sneak in the deal like in the Harden trade, but how much better does that make this version of the Sixers? They’ll also have less picks to build for the future, hurting any future team-building around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Again, there’s no great solution here. The best and most logical step is to fortify the center position behind Embiid. The Sixers have done well on the margins in so many other areas. Their inability to find just a decent backup big or two, knowing Embiid’s injury history, is mind-boggling.
Bona is fine as a backup playing 15-20 minutes a night while he continues to develop, but the team needs more. With respect to Drummond, who is giving the Sixers everything he can right now, an upgrade is needed. You don’t need a world-beater, just a big who can do the basics — set good screens, roll to the rim and finish, rebound and protect the rim. There are centers who fit this mold you can acquire without needing premium trade assets or money. Johni Broome is here, but it still could be beneficial to bring in another young big after the 23-year-old rookie couldn’t get minutes before suffering a meniscus injury.
The Sixers couldn’t be in a stranger spot. Embiid is likely too good to salary dump, but can’t be relied upon to stay healthy through a playoff run. There’s no perfect answer, but the team can do better starting this offseason.
