NBA: If he stays healthy…

Joel Embiid will extend his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers for another five years, according to media reports in the coming days.The Cameroonian confirmed this and can even become a Max player under certain conditions.A high risk of a constantly injured player – but also comprehensible.

How can a team give 148 million dollars over five years to a player who has only played 31 games in three years (and missed 215) and is not yet fully fit for the upcoming season?Many fans around the Association will certainly ask themselves this question – and rightly so.The medical record reads as follows: foot operation, operation in the right foot, operation in the left knee, all within a period of three years.

But Joel Embiid is also an extraordinary player, and few people will deny that, even though the hype surrounding the Cameroonian player last season has been blossoming, at least in part strange.Of course, his usage rate for a Big Man was absurd at 36.3 percent and partly absurd in the sphere of Russell Westbrook (41.7 percent), but when he stood on the court, Embiid delivered.

In 25.4 minutes, Embiid hung up 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, scoring an acceptable 36.7 percent of his threesomes.The 23-year-old is a player who is able to shine on both sides of the court, solely due to his sheer presence of 2.13 metres.

As bad as the Sixers were last season: Embiid was on the field, Philly was a potential playoff team.With him, Brett Brown’s team scored an average of 3.3 points more than their opponent with 100 balls.To put it another way, this was better than the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers net rating.Only six teams is the entire league were better.

It is also clear that this treaty, if it is soon to be handed over, is not comparable with anything the league has seen so far.However, the Sixers also make this big promise to a player who has the potential to be a revolutionary player.

Of course, the question marks are large.A 23-year-old man, who is injured all the time, but will soon earn almost $30 million a year (and will eat up 30 percent of the salary cap), can put a lot of sweat on a General Manager’s face.

It is a huge risk, but what are the alternatives?Isn’t every franchise looking for a face, a player who can carry his team on his own?Many of these designs don’t exist and Philly is fortunate to have such a player in his ranks.The premature prolongation is also a sign of trust in Embiid.The organization has always been patient and remains so now.If Embiid had gone to the Restricted Free Agency in the summer, the Sixers would have been able to keep the center at a similar price, but with this move the trust was strengthened once again.

At the same time, it is also the logical continuation of our own course, which was taken under ex-GM Sam Hinkie and continued under Bryan Colangelo.As early as 2014, the Sixers embiid picked on number three, although his injury history was known and he would not play a game in the first year.It is an orientation that harbours many dangers, but could also generate high profits.

At the same time, there will be clauses in the treaty that could protect Philadelphia.It has not yet been announced what amount of the 148 million will be fully guaranteed, but there will be ways for Philly not to count the full salary against the salary cap.Another advantage of early renewal.In the Restricted Free Agency, Philly might have had to match up much worse deals.Some team would have made a gigantic offer to Embiid, almost certainly.

The Sixers won’t have capproble problems in the near future.Most of the contracts expire in 2018, Philly holds numerous options.The Embiid, Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric quartet will be under contract until at least 2020.Despite the Embiid treaty, this would cost Philadelphia just under $50 million altogether.

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But it’s not just his play on the court that makes Embiid so valuable.Hardly any other player inspires the masses as much as he does.His tweets and videos regularly provide amusement.Embiid is a big fan favourite after just 31 games, even outside Philadelphia, making him a powerful drawhorse for the entire league.

He deserves it,”said center rival Jahlil Okafor,”You’ve all seen what a great player he is,”but he’s also extremely popular with his teammates, which was confirmed by the first rumors about the extra time.Nik Stauskas hit the same score:” Many people question him, but we see him in every training session.If he stays healthy, he’s worth every cent.”

And there it is again.This small but essential flaw.With the exception of those responsible in Philadelphia, I don’t think anyone knows exactly what the state of the Big Man’s health is.For many fans, this extension will remain an incomprehensible decision.

It is not yet clear whether Embiid will be present at the start of this season either.Only recently he trained again five against five in practice, but he hadn’t been used in the preseason yet.The sixers play a lot of poker with it, the yield could be even higher.If he gets well and it stays that way…