Why it's time for 76ers to shut down Joel Embiid 

Embiid has only played 19 games this season and has not looked like his old self. He has averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. In 39 games last season, he logged 34.7 PPG, 11 RPG and 5.6 APG. 

Embiid, the 2022-23 MVP, recently admitted that his knee is still bothering him, and he may need surgery to fix it. 

"The way I was playing a year ago, it's not the way I'm playing right now. It sucks," Embiid said, via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. "But I believe ... I probably need to fix the problem and then I'll be back at that level, but it's hard to have trust when you're not yourself. It's tough. You know you can do so much more."  

In 2024, Embiid helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, even though he underwent surgery on a torn meniscus in early February. He may have returned too early, contributing to his drop-off this season. 

A healthy Embiid probably couldn't carry an underwhelming Philadelphia squad to the NBA Finals anyway. The 76ers are 20-36 and will probably miss the playoffs.

Tanking without Embiid could help Philadelphia. The Sixers' first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it's top-six protected. 

Letting Embiid sit for the rest of the season seems sensible for Philadelphia.