76ers’ Daryl Morey ‘hopeful’ Joel Embiid can return for playoffs

PHILADELPHIA — 76ers team president Daryl Morey expressed optimism Friday that reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will return from a knee injury in time for a potential playoff run.

“We're hopeful,” Morey said before the 76ers hosted the Atlanta Hawks and three days after Embiid underwent surgery on his left knee. “The feedback has been more good than bad since we first heard about what led to her intervention. So we're hopeful and we're building the team to make it better this year. Obviously, she doesn't “It's not 100 percent. But with Joel playing at an MVP level, I hope he can get back there. And this is a year where we have a real chance.”

When asked if his approach would have been different based on the news of Embiid's injury, Morey was clear.

“If the hope wasn’t there in Joel, I think it would have changed things dramatically,” Morey said. “We're very hopeful. Obviously it's not 100 percent. It's something that's probably unfortunately well below 100 percent. But we thought it was the right thing.

There are many ways to not win the title. Winning a title is difficult; Joel not returning to the level we hope for is one of the reasons why we can't win a title this year, most likely. …But you I always want to be part of the best teams and that means taking risks when it comes to injuries and that's where we are right now.

Embiid, averaging 35.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in 39 games, has missed the last five games since Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga went down in his left leg, injuring his meniscus that required surgery. surgery Tuesday. The 76ers' initial report stated that Embiid would be “re-evaluated” in four weeks. Before that, Embiid had been sidelined due to swelling in his left knee in Philadelphia's previous two games.

Morey declined to describe the exact procedure Embiid performed, which would have provided a clue to the significance of the injury.

Morey said he opted out in an effort to replace Embiid and improve the team's backup center position to Paul Reed. He said he was shocked that no jackpots were traded before the trading deadline.

Instead, Morey signed veteran guards Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne in separate deals. Philadelphia acquired both in four deals that included the departures of Patrick Beverley, Danuel House, Furkan Kourkmaz and Jaden Springer, as well as forward Marcus Morris Sr. The 76ers also shipped four second-round picks in those movements while receiving two in return. in trades with Milwaukee and Boston.

“Our priority was to get a big result, but we wanted to add to our playoff rotation this year,” Morey said.

Hield will likely be a key 3-point shooting threat for Philadelphia, helping to aid All-Star Tyrese Maxey, who saw defenses flock to him after Embiid's injury.

“We have to win games and it’s going to be a battle,” Morey said. “But we were focused on the playoffs, we have a rotation that we know can win at a very high level and he was the only player moving teams that would play a big role in our rotation. 'he brings to the table is pretty. obvious.'