The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-37 which is by far the worst record in the NBA yet they still have reason to be optimistic about the future. Part of the reason for optimism is Jahlil Okafor who is having a very nice rookie season but another part of the reason is Joel Embiid. Embiid has yet to play in an NBA game so far but there is a lot of buzz surrounding him and his eventual return. 76ers fans will have to wait until next year though because returning this year is still not in the plans, according to Tom Moore of The Intelligencer.
Embiid sat out the first season after being drafted by Philadelphia after undergoing foot surgery and the same has happened to him this year. Embiid's recovery and rehab has led to a lot of speculation about his work ethic as there were reports he wasn't taking it very seriously and wasn't being forthcoming with how he was feeling to the doctors.
Recently though, all of the reports have been positive regarding Embiid's recovery and it has been said that he is even ahead of schedule. Embiid has already been ruled out for the entire 2015-16 season but because he is ahead of schedule there was some though he might play this season. Chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo shot that idea down though as he said it is not a consideration right now.
"No one's rushing him back there's no reason to. The goal and objective at the start of next season is to do everything we can do to get him in the best position to be successful. Because if he can hold up and he's OK, he's a game changer. It's going to take him a while to get re-acclimated because he hasn't played. But this guy is worthy of a lot of time and effort. I'm upbeat about the possibilities. I really am," said Colangelo.
Embiid was the third overall pick back in the 2014 NBA Draft by the 76ers so they were clearly high on him then and now even Colangelo, who was just brought on board, remains high on him despite the injuries. Injuries will always be a concern for Embiid (he dealt with back issues in his one year of college at Kansas) but if and when he gets on the floor the 76ers see him as someone that can alter the direction of the franchise. For that reason, the 76ers are doing the right thing by taking it slow and not rushing him back before he is ready.
