Several experts reveal the reason that could leave Embiid out of the NBA

Concerns about Joel Embiid no longer revolve solely around his recurring knee issues. According to several NBA scouts, the Philadelphia 76ers center is struggling to adapt to the increasing pace of modern basketball, a problem that—according to them—was becoming evident even before his most recent absence.

An Eastern Conference scout stated that the MVP couldn't keep up with the current league pace even on his best physical nights, raising doubts about his long-term sustainability. “With how fast the game is played now, he was already having trouble keeping up when healthy. Much more so now,” another Eastern scout remarked.

Embiid has been out of action for over two weeks due to issues in his right knee, adding to the history of complications with his left knee. The string of physical problems has led the 76ers to rethink how they build their offensive identity to not rely entirely on his availability.

In rival front offices, the sense is growing that Philadelphia needs to change its approach. Some executives believe Embiid remains valuable but that it is no longer prudent to base the entire offense around him. “They have to find a way to maximize what he can still offer,” reflected an Eastern executive. “I don't think he will return to being the player he was, so they must use him more strategically.”

Embiid, much less agile

The pivot's loss of mobility has become more noticeable in defense. Opponents force him out of the paint to exploit him in pick-and-roll situations, and his lateral movement no longer responds as it used to. “He runs from one free-throw line to the other, little more,” commented an assistant coach from the conference.

Even his impact on rebounding has decreased, an additional sign that his explosiveness has diminished. As he remains sidelined, the 76ers have struggled to protect the paint, with Andre Drummond being the only natural choice at center.

Nevertheless, teams continue to respect Embiid's offensive ability. After a shaky start in Boston, he strung together five games with over 20 points, shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from three, particularly dangerous in one-on-one situations with Tyrese Maxey, Cooper Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and Jared McCain.

His scoring ability is not in question. The scouts' uncertainty lies in whether his body can keep up with the current NBA pace.

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