On Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers were blown out by the Chicago Bulls.
This marks their eighth straight loss. They are now 20-37 and 12th in the Eastern Conference.
With slim hopes of even reaching the Play-In, it’s time to shut down Joel Embiid and move on from the process this offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder will receive the 76ers pick if it does not fall in the top six. Not receiving their first-round pick this draft would devastate this depleted 76ers roster.
The Deeper Issue
On Feb. 22, Nick Nurse benched Joel Embiid for the entirety of the fourth quarter as he watched Nic Claxton hit a game-winner from the bench.
On the 24th, Embiid was held inactive. This was his 38th missed game of the season— he has only appeared in 19 pathetic performances. Averaging just under 24 points per game on 44% from the field and 29% from three, this is not the Joel Embiid that fans have known.
When Nurse was asked about shutting Embiid down, he claimed that Embiid is still expected to play this season.
“Not at that point at all. Just again we are playing and testing and trying to figure it out and go from there.”
This sounds like someone trying his best to keep his job until June.
Nonetheless, this is par for the course with the 76ers’ injury management. One would think the proper move would be to rest their star and let him go into the off-season healthy to boost trade value. But again, this is the 76ers.
The team is also reportedly seeking “alternative options” for Embiid.
Everything about this season has been a disaster for Philadelphia. From Paul George forgetting how to shoot a basketball to a locker room in distress, and the cherry on top— Joel Embiid’s left knee giving up on him.
The process has failed. Fire Nick Nurse, try and dump Paul George to any team that will take him, and trade Embiid for some picks before his trade value hits absolute zero. Commit to getting a top-three pick in this year’s draft and build up from rock bottom.
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