76ers' Hinkie doubts Joel Embiid will be ready for summer league
For those patient Philadelphia 76ers' fans who are still waiting for a peek of 2014 No. 3 pick Joel Embiid, keep waiting.
Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie met with the media following Thursday's trade deadline and revealed Embiid is recovering nicely in Dubai, but he most likely won't be healthy enough to participate in the 2016 summer league action in July.
#Sixers Hinkie: 'If I had to guess, I doubt' Embiid would play in summer league. We definitely wouldn't push him.' #NBA
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) February 19, 2016
The goal is to have Embiid ready for the start of the 2016-17 season so the talented 21-year-old can finally make his NBA debut after two years lost on account of a pair of foot surgeries.
Embiid went under the knife a second time in August to insert a bone graft into his right foot that was healing slower than expected following his first procedure.
Hinkie selected Embiid despite knowledge of the 7-footer's history of foot injuries. His profile as a potential stretch-five was simply too tempting for Hinkie to pass up.