Even if Joel Embiid returns from injury, he won't be near his best

Joel Embiid has missed the Philadelphia 76ers' last 21 games. He recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. It's still unclear whether he will return to the court before the postseason begins. 

At his pre-game news conference following the Sixers win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, head coach Nick Nurse remained optimistic that the reigning MVP will be back in the rotation.

"I think there's always stages of how these things progress," Nurse said. "Everyone wants to know 'Well how long is it going to be?" And they give a wide range because of that, because everyone heals differently. We're just trying to take it as it comes, get him healthy and get him back when he's ready to go...I'm still hoping so and pretty confident, yes."

Having Embiid back on the court is imperative to the Sixers' chances of success. However, it's unlikely that he will return to full fitness. He will likely be on a minutes restriction throughout the playoffs, and asking him to shoulder a heavy workload would risk re-aggravating the injury.  

Instead, the Sixers would be better served by simply accepting that this isn't going to be their season. Even with Embiid on the floor, they weren't seen among the genuine championship contenders this season. It would be wise to let their star player heal over the summer and look to make a push next season. That would also give Daryl Morey the opportunity to strengthen the roster. 

Philadelphia's season got off to the worst possible start due to the James Harden saga. The Embiid injury has plunged them into new depths. Forcing the issue risks long-term harm for an improbable short-term gain, no matter how much Nurse wants to contend in his first season with the franchise. Sometimes, it's good to know when you've been beaten, and this is one of those times.