August 10, 2015
“We have been consistent in our philosophy that our focus will be Joel’s long-term health and wellness to ensure he will have a long and impactful career in the NBA. After receiving the input of the aforementioned medical experts, as well as conversations with Joel and his representatives, there was careful consideration given to a number of options related to this particular situation. A collective decision has been made that the best approach to promote full healing would be to proceed with a bone graft of the fracture site. We anticipate the procedure will take place in the next 7-10 days and result in Joel missing the upcoming season. ”
That statement came from Sam Hinkie on July 11th and there still hasn’t been any official word on whether or not Joel Embiid went under the knife. Which means…
It admittedly feels weird to write about something where there is so little tangible information, yet here we are. This being the Sixers, nothing ever seems to come easy. There are a couple of questions in play with Embiid’s current situation:
1. Has he undergone the surgical procedure on his right foot?
2. If he hasn’t, what is the cause of the delay?
While not impossible, I find the scenario that the Sixers are withholding information of a successful Embiid surgery unlikely. Ever since word of the 21-year-old center’s initial setback leaked, the organization has been aggressive in providing their own official updates. If Embiid already underwent some sort of procedure (be it a bone graft or something else), it feels like the Sixers would want to get the word out quickly, especially because they gave the 7-10 day timeline.
So if we operate under the assumption that no surgery has taken place, the question is why. From here, the most likely scenario seems to be that Embiid and his representation don’t necessarily want to undergo another season-ending procedure. This is complete speculation, based on the common knowledge that Embiid doesn’t feel any pain in his foot.
“Yeah, he feels really good,” Hinkie said one day after the draft. “It’s part of what makes this confusing, confusing for him for sure. In fact, he says, ‘I can’t believe how good I feel’ and ‘I’ve felt great for a while, it seems hard to believe something could be wrong.’”
That could be our answer, which would explain why there hasn’t been any update. Embiid was reportedly playing very well in workouts prior to the CT scan that revealed “less healing” — take that information with a grain of salt if you choose, but he at least sounded healthy while participating in activities at game speed — so he and his representation might feel that missing another season is unnecessary. If the two sides are at an impasse, the situation could turn from sticky to ugly pretty quickly.
Again, this is all speculation. Remember that the Sixers crisscrossed the globe seeking opinions from a variety of medical experts. Doctors can disagree, and as Hinkie said “careful consideration was given to a number of options.” Maybe Embiid heard from a few of them that surgery wasn’t necessary and wants to hear more from them.
Or maybe everyone is on the same page and there are a few minor medical complications holding back the surgery. Maybe they're on the same page and the Sixers have reconsidered their initial position.
Whatever is happening, it’s all definitely very confusing.
Update: Over at CSN Philly, Gonzo has a source saying that the surgery is still scheduled, a doctor has been chosen, and Embiid basically wanted to take his time.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
