Embiid suffers setback

Joel Embiid

PHILADELPHIA - A CT scan taken Saturday on injured 76ers center Joel Embiid revealed that his surgically repaired right foot was not healing properly.

Embiid missed the entire 2014-15 season after the Sixers selected the Cameroon native and University of Kansas standout third overall last June. The 7-footer suffered a back injury late in his lone college season and had two screws inserted into his right foot during surgery just before the draft.

"As part of the conservative approach focused on the long-term health, recovery, and care of Joel, we have been closely monitoring his progress," said Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie in a statement.

Embiid was in Los Angeles for a routine exam when a scan revealed the setback.

"Our priority remains providing Joel with every opportunity to ensure he has a long and successful NBA career, and as such, these findings cause us to pause and reassess his current activities."

Embiid was set to make his Sixers debut next month at the Utah Jazz Summer League but now his entire future is up in the air as is Hinkie's controversial "tanking" philosophy, which is focused on optimizing opportunities to garner a superstar as the expense of putting a passable product on the floor.


The Sixers select third once again in the upcoming draft, and Embiid's cloudy future will likely push Hinkie's "plan" back another year.

"Discussions regarding the appropriate next steps are currently ongoing and we will share an update once it becomes available," Hinkie clamined.