The center's contract becomes more of an albatross with every game he misses, every night that he happens to suit up and ends up hobbling from one end of the court to the other.

Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, has played in just 13 games this season, missing time with knee, foot and sinus injuries. He was sidelined for Philadelphia’s first nine games, sat out seven consecutive games in late November and early December and has been sidelined for the past six games.