With Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid on the mend again following a second surgery on his right foot Tuesday, general manager Sam Hinkie refuted reports that Embiid had re-broken his navicular bone.
Hinkie told reporters Wednesday that, instead, the seven-footer had never finished healing from his first procedure on that bone in June 2014.
Two screws in Embiid's foot were replaced in Tuesday's operation.
Hinkie reiterated that the team expects Embiid to miss the entire 2015-16 campaign, his second consecutive lost season, and placed Embiid's recovery time at five-to-eight months.
The Sixers "spanned all around the country and globe" in their search for information on how to proceed with the Cameroonian big man's condition, Hinkie told media.
Close to dozen experts were unanimous about Embiid needing a surgery
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) August 19, 2015
The No. 3 pick in last summer's draft has yet to play a minute in the NBA. Since Embiid left Kansas after his freshman year in the spring of 2014, the most basketball anyone has seen the center play is throwing down dunks in pregame warmups. Embiid was supposed to play in summer league this year, but suffered the foot setback in the spring.
Embiid's most recent surgery reportedly isn't covered by insurance, and he is owed $4.6 million in salary for 2015-16. By October, the 76ers can pick up his third-year, $4.8-million team option for 2016-17.
