NY Knicks Rumors: Amar'e Stoudemire Traded if Joel Embiid Out for Season? Philadelphia 76ers Push Deal After Nerlens Noel Starter with Michael Carter-Williams

Aug 29, 2014 10:24 AM EDT
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid plays against TCU while a member of the Kansas Jayhawks."

Joel Embiid has been Twitter's brightest star since getting drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers, but what about duplicating that status on the court. The former Kansas big man underwent foot surgery shortly before being a first-round pick and has not been seen in uniform since. The 76ers have already dealt with a top pick sitting out a season due to injury and they could possible by dealing with another as Embiid's health is getting questioned with the offseason drawing to a close.

The 76ers will get Nerlens Noel on the court this upcoming season after the center sat out his entire rookie season rehabbing a torn ACL. Could Embiid take the same approach with his foot? Health has certainly become an issue for the center. His college career at Kansas ended early thanks to a back injury. That sent red flags around his name during the NBA combine and now this foot issue is not helping. 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie hinted there was a possibility that Embiid did not step onto the court this season.

I don't know at this point. Right now, he's in Philly and visiting with a variety of our medical professionals and going through tests," said Sam Hinkie, via Philly.com. "He'll get a good baseline and then we'll put together a rehab plan. He's still in a boot. He was shooting threes on one leg in our gym [Monday]. I don't know how it will play out."

Embiid's ceiling is considered very high at this point, but not having him on the roster certainly hurts Philadelphia for the upcoming year. The team does have Michael Carter-Williams back in action, but they traded away Thaddeus Young and has not replaced him yet. Could this push the team to make a trade for Amar'e Stoudemire before the offseason ends?

Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com previously reported that the 76ers were looking to take on unwanted contracts and Stoudemire fits that description. His current deal is expiring at the end of the season which makes him an ideal pickup for Philadelphia. Given that Embiid might not be playing this season, having someone like Stoudemire on the court makes up for the loss of the rookie and Young. Noel is likely a lock to start this year given the 76ers lack of depth. Stoudemire would be a solid veteran to throw into the young roster group.

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