Section 215
Fansided

Joel Embiid Out Indefinitely Due To Swelling In His Knee

By George Kondoleon

Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sixers announce that Joel Embiid will be out indefinitely with swelling in his knee. How does the franchise move forward this season?

Joel Embiid’s glorious rookie season is most likely done. The Sixers announced that he had swelling in his knee that marks him out indefinitely. He experienced a knee contusion in the January 25th game against the Milwuakee Bucks, but still played in the ESPN televised matchup against the Houston Rockets.

That would be the last of what Sixers fans saw from Joel Embiid, for this season at least. In his tumultuous three years since being drafted, Embiid has now faced three injuries that have effectively ended each season. The foot fracture, and the re-injury of the same foot fracture, held him out two season, leaving the Sixers without what many believed to be the best big man prospect in recent history.

When he made his debut against Oklahoma City this season, he took the league by storm. The center made his mark with coast-to-coast layups, polished post moves, emphatic blocks, and top of the arc three-pointers. He was leading the Sixers out of the smugness of the rebuild, and into the light of promise. Even without the starlight of top pick Ben Simmons, Philadelphia was rejuvenated by the return of Joel Embiid.

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Without the luster of Embiid, the Sixers may not seem as attractive on paper. But the play of Dario Saric has propelled the team to victories even without the stud center. Saric now has a chance to run away with Joel Embiid’s rookie of the year trophy, and can do so while still cementing his role as a starter in the future. He and Jahlil Okafor will now take the task of carrying the load on offense and have done a decent job thus far post-All-Star break.

Joel Embiid’s main focus is now health. The Sixers must be patient with his recovery as this season is lost from any real importance. The importance comes in development of the young players that are healthy, and the slow but sure recovery from both Embiid and Simmons. This may be the last of Embiid for this year, but surely we will see him dominate the NBA for years to come.

Next: Ben Simmons Will Miss The Season

The Sixers move ahead with a group of lesser-touted prospects, but ones that can still make their mark and prove their worth in the future. The team may see themselves in a great position to add another top prospect this summer as well. Philadelphia is gloomy as of right now, but better days are ahead.