East Notes: Sixers, Joel Embiid, Nets, Malachi Smith, Cavs

76ers

Joel Embiid might see the floor before the preseason wraps up. Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters the reigning MVP could play Friday against the Timberwolves, according to Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports.

Embiid is coming off knee surgery but has been gradually increasing his workload.

Nurse said there’s no setback, just a few “hurdles to clear.” Embiid participated in the team’s Blue & White scrimmage Sunday, and as relayed by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, and even shared the floor with second-year big man Adem Bona — a lineup that’s caught Nurse’s eye.

Bona has started all three preseason games and is positioning himself as Embiid’s primary backup, though Nurse wants him to rebound more and stay out of foul trouble.

Meanwhile, Paul George (knee) and Trendon Watford (hamstring) have returned to portions of practice after individual work, a sign the Sixers are slowly getting healthy before opening night.

Nets

Brooklyn signed free agent guard Malachi Smith, as relayed by Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The former Gonzaga standout averaged 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season with the G League’s Memphis Hustle.

The Long Island Nets already hold his G League rights, so the move likely means he’ll be waived soon and join the affiliate. The Nets have been handing out partial guarantees — not Exhibit 10s — as part of a creative cap-floor strategy.

As Spotrac’s Keith Smith noted, players like Tre Scott and Terry Roberts were also given guaranteed money, then released, with those contracts still counting toward the cap.

It’s all part of Brooklyn’s slow rebuild and financial reshuffling as they stockpile development talent for Long Island.

Cavaliers

The Cavs’ trio of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley ranked third in ESPN’s “Big Three” list compiled by Tim Bontemps. Only the Thunder and Nuggets finished higher.

Bontemps cited Cleveland’s 64-win campaign and young core locked into long-term deals but noted that playoff shortcomings still keep them below the top tier. The Cavs fell to Indiana in five games last spring after Garland played through injury.

Cleveland opens the regular season next week in New York, and optimism remains high. Garland and Mobley may not have even hit their peaks yet, and Mitchell is coming off a First Team All-NBA season.

If Mobley, in particular, takes another leap, the Cavs’ ceiling might be higher than even the experts think.